Nasopharyngeal vs. adenoid cultures in children undergoing adenoidectomy: prevalence of bacterial pathogens, their interactions and risk factors.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Staphylococcus aureus colonization of the adenoids and nasopharynx in 103 preschool children who underwent adenoidectomy for recurrent upper respiratory tract infections was examined. Bacterial interactions and risk factors for bacterial colonization of the nasopharynx and adenoids, separately, were analysed statistically. The prevalence of simultaneous isolation from both anatomical sites was 45·6% for S. pneumoniae, 29·1% for H. influenzae, 15·5% for M. catarrhalis and 18·4% for S. aureus. Three pathogens were significantly more frequent together from adenoid samples; nasopharyngeal swabs more often yielded a single organism, but without statistical significance. M. catarrhalis and S. aureus significantly more frequently co-existed with S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae than with each other and a positive association of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in adenoid samples was evident. Several differences between risk factors for nasopharyngeal and adenoid colonization by the individual pathogens were observed. We conclude that the adenoids and nasopharynx appear to differ substantially in colonization by pathogenic microbes but occurrence of H. influenzae and S. pneumoniae in the nasopharynx could be predictive of upper respiratory tract infections.

Epidemiology, clinical history and microbiology of peritonsillar abscess.

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the epidemiology, clinical history and microbiology of peritonsillar abscess (PTA). A retrospective review of PTA cases treated at the Department of Otolaryngology, Regional Specialist Hospital in Radom, Poland between 1st October 2003 and 30th September 2013 was undertaken. A total of 111 PTA patients were admitted. The study population consisted of 57.7 % males and 42.3 % females, with an average age of 31.0 (range 5-78) years. Smokers comprised 22.0 % of the study group. The seasonal variation of PTA was statistically insignificant (p = 0.45). Recurrent tonsillitis occurred in 35.5 % of patients. In comparison with the rest of the study population, patients with a history of recurrent pharyngotonsillitis had higher incidence of previous PTA episodes [odds ratio (OR) 17.8, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.1-148.7, p = 0.001]. Also, they were more frequently treated with antibiotics prior to hospitalisation (OR 4.6, 95 % CI 2.0-10.9, p = 0.0005) and had significantly longer hospital stay (p = 0.03). Bacterial cultures of abscess aspirates were performed in 40.5 % of patients. Monomicrobial growth was detected in 77.8 % of aerobic cultures. Streptococcus pyogenes, growing most frequently in monoculture, was found in 28.9 % of aerobic cultures. PTA patients with and without recurrent pharyngotonsillitis differed with regard to clinical history and course of disease. The percentage of smokers among PTA patients was lower than that described in the literature. Monomicrobial growth predominated in PTA aspirate cultures. S. pyogenes proved to be the most frequent pathogen.

2-Oxoglutarate transport system in Staphylococcus aureus.

2-[(14)C]oxoglutarate uptake in resting cells of Staphylococcus aureus 17810S occurs via two kinetically different systems: (1) a secondary, electrogenic 2-oxoglutarate:H(+) symporter (K(m)=0.105 mM), energized by an electrochemical proton potential (Delta mu H(+)) that is generated by the oxidation of endogenous amino acids and sensitive to ionophores, and (2) a Delta mu H(+)-independent facilitated diffusion system (K(m)=1.31 mM). The 2-oxoglutarate transport system of S. aureus 17810S can be classified as a new member of the MHS (metabolite:H(+) symporter) family. This transporter takes up various dicarboxylic acids in the order of affinity: succinate = malate > fumarate > 2-oxoglutarate > glutamate. Energy conservation with 2-oxoglutarate was studied in starved cells of strain 17810S. Initial transport of 2-oxoglutarate in these cells is energized by Delta mu H(+) generated via hydrolysis of residual ATP. Subsequent oxidation of the accumulated 2-oxoglutarate generates Delta mu H(+) for further, autoenergized transport of this 2-oxoacid and also for Delta mu H(+)-linked resynthesis of ATP. In the cadmium-sensitive S. aureus 17810S, Cd(2+) accumulation strongly inhibits energy conservation with 2-oxoglutarate at the level of Delta mu H(+) generation, without direct blocking of the 2-oxoglutarate transport system or ATP synthase complex. In the cadmium-resistant S. aureus 17810R, Cd(2+) does not affect energy conservation due to its extrusion by the Cd(2+) efflux system (Cd(2+)-ATPase of P-type), which prevents Cd(2+) accumulation.