Comparing the oropharyngeal colonization density of Kingella kingae between asymptomatic carriers and children with invasive osteoarticular infections.

Colonization of the oropharynx by Kingella kingae is currently considered to be a prerequisite for later development of invasive infections. However, the oropharyngeal K. kingae DNA bacterial load in children with osteoarticular infections caused by this microorganism is not different than that of asymptomatic carriers.