Prevalence and genetic diversity of nontypeable haemophilus influenzae in the respiratory tract of infants and primary caregivers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) causes otitis media, sinusitis, and likely lower respiratory tract infections in children. Colonization, strain diversity, transmission, and antimicrobial susceptibility have implications for both children and their caregivers.

Methods

For 13 months, we conducted a cross-sectional study of NTHi colonization. Upper respiratory tract cultures were performed in 273 infants and children 2 to 26 months of age and their primary caregivers. NTHi isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and antibiotic resistance was examined.

Results

Of the 273 infants, 44 (16.1%) were colonized with NTHi. Prevalence of NTHi varied from 14% in infants less than 6 months of age to 32% in infants between 19 and 26 mon

SUBMITTER: Schumacher SK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3261374 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature