Nasopharyngeal Pneumococcal Density and Evolution of Acute Respiratory Illnesses in Young Children, Peru, 2009-2011.

Roger R Fan,Ana I Gil,Jorge E Vidal,John V Williams,Leigh M Howard,Keith P Klugman,Yuwei Zhu,Marie R Griffin,Carlos G Grijalva,Kathryn M Edwards,Claudio F Lanata

doi:10.3201/eid2211.160902

Abstract

We examined nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization density patterns surrounding acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) in young children in Peru. Pneumococcal densities were dynamic, gradually increasing leading up to an ARI, peaking during the ARI, and decreasing after the ARI. Rhinovirus co-infection was associated with higher pneumococcal densities.

Highlights

We examined nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization density patterns surrounding acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) in young children in Peru
Our findings demonstrate a dynamic evolution of pneumococcal densities before, during, and after ARI episodes among young children
We observed a gradual increase in pneumococcal density leading up to an ARI episode, peak density during symptomatic ARI, and a decrease in density post-ARI to levels similar to those in baseline non-ARI periods

Summary

Introduction

We examined nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization density patterns surrounding acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) in young children in Peru. If the child had an ARI during the preceding 7 days, we collected a nasal swab sample and tested it for respiratory viruses by reverse transcription PCR at Vanderbilt University [6,8,9,10,11]. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected monthly without regard to ARI and tested at Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA) by using quantitative PCR for pneumococcal density determinations.

Results

Conclusion