Abstract
Objective
After a viral infection in the nasal cavity or sinus, superimposed bacteria infection is likely to occur. Therefore the carriage rate of bacterial pathogen in the nasal cavity (NC), nasopharynx (NP), and ostiomeatal complex (OMC) were determined during wellness and upper respiratory viral infection.
Methods
There were 2 groups in the study. The control group was well with no nasal or sinus problems. The cohort group had an upper respiratory viral infection. The NC, NP, and OMC cultures were taken from each study group. Agars cultured were used to detect S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, and M. catarrhalis. Statistical comparison was made between the groups. The bacterial pathogens were also compared between the various sites of culture within a group.
Results
There were 91 subjects in the study-51 subjects with an upper respiratory viral infection and 40 control participants. 59% of participants were female. There was no statistical difference in the rate of bacterial pathogen in the NP (p=0.2) or NC (p=0.06) between the control and cohort group. There was a significant increase (p<0.008) of bacterial pathogen in the OMC of viral illness group versus the control group. Bacterial pathogen present in the OMC had a similar pathogen in either the NC or NP.
Conclusions
This study defines the reservoir of bacteria in the NC or NP for the bacterial pathogen in the OMC during wellness and upper respiratory viral infection.
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