Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage
07:47

Experimental Human Pneumococcal Carriage

Published on: February 15, 2013

Carriage epidemiology of Moraxella catarrhalis in an all-age community cohort between 2016 and 2018

Denise E Morris1, Alex J J Lister1, David W Cleary2,3

  • 1Faculty of Medicine and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.

Access Microbiology
|July 1, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Moraxella catarrhalis carriage is common in the community and higher in care homes. Risk factors include young age, co-infections, and recent respiratory illness, with significant antimicrobial resistance observed.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Moraxella catarrhalis is a significant respiratory pathogen, causing otitis media in children and COPD exacerbations in adults.
  • Understanding M. catarrhalis epidemiology is vital for vaccine development.
  • This study investigates carriage and risk factors in an all-age population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and epidemiology of M. catarrhalis carriage in the upper respiratory tract.
  • To identify risk factors associated with M. catarrhalis carriage.
  • To assess antimicrobial resistance patterns of M. catarrhalis isolates.

Main Methods:

  • A community-based carriage study (Solent SMART Study) was conducted in the UK.
  • 1,622 community participants and 79 care/nursing home residents were recruited.
  • M. catarrhalis isolates underwent antimicrobial resistance testing.

Main Results:

  • Overall carriage prevalence was 8% in the community and 19% in care homes.
  • Carriage was higher in individuals with COPD (4.7%).
  • Factors associated with carriage included nasopharyngeal site, young age, co-carriage with other bacteria, and recent respiratory infections. 41.4% of isolates showed resistance to at least one antibiotic.

Conclusions:

  • Nasopharyngeal carriage of M. catarrhalis is influenced by various host and microbial factors.
  • Significant antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for ongoing surveillance.
  • Findings inform strategies for M. catarrhalis vaccine development and treatment.
Keywords:
Moraxella catarrhalisantimicrobial resistance (AMR)carriageepidemiology

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