scholarly journals Assessment of Postvaccine Immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae in Patients with Asplenia, including an Analysis of Its Impact on Bacterial Flora of the Upper Respiratory Tract and Incidence of Infections

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Olender ◽  
Katarzyna Małkińska ◽  
Jacek Roliński ◽  
Ewelina Grywalska ◽  
Elżbieta Pels ◽  
...  

S. pneumoniae is a microorganism that may cause a serious threat in postsplenectomy patients due to a potentially invasive course of infection. In order to assess a protective activity after vaccination with the 23-valent vaccine, we made an analysis of the level of antibodies in patients with asplenia compared to a control group of healthy donors. Additionally, colonization by potentially pathogenic microorganisms of the upper respiratory tract was analyzed to determine the carrier state by strains with vaccine serotype. No such strains were found in the research, yet three non-vaccine-serotype strains were found. Colonization of the upper respiratory tract by potentially pathogenic microorganisms may be connected with increased susceptibility observed and incidence of infections in patients with asplenia. However, colonization by S. pneumoniae may not have an effect on the level of specific antibodies with the 23-valent vaccine against S. pneumoniae (PPV23) in postsplenectomy patients and healthy people. The response to vaccination against S. pneumoniae showed a lower level of specific antibodies in patients with splenectomy performed more than 2 years before the test than in patients with a recently removed spleen, i.e., from 1 month to 2 years before the test. Vaccination against pneumococci also has positive effects on incidence of other etiology infections, which is of high significance in the prophylaxis of infectious diseases in this group of patients.

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 359-367
Author(s):  
I. I. Ababii ◽  
L. A. Danilov ◽  
M. K. Maniuc ◽  
P. I. Ababii ◽  
S. S. Ghinda ◽  
...  

Currently, a rise in incidence of polyethological inflammation of the upper respiratory tract mucosa paralleled by altered resident and transient microbiota displaying in many cases increased antibiotic resistance has been noted. Opportunistic microbes play a major role in developing inflammatory process in Pirogov–Waldeyer’s ring. An inflammatory process occurring in the tonsillar lymphatic tissue results in host systemic complications. Fighting against acute and chronic infections of the upper respiratory tract holds the main task in pediatric otorhinolaryngology, as they can consequently elicit the cardiovascular, genitourinary and musculoskeletal complications. The results of studies examining this issue remain very contradictory, which accounted for a need to conduct our study on the territory of Moldova featured with mixed climatic conditions. Here, we wanted to study a role of microbial factor in etiopathogenesis of chronic tonsillitis in children. Bacteriological microbiota data for superficial palatine tonsils were obtained form 608 children subdivided into 5 groups: group I — 333 children with compensated chronic tonsillitis; group II — 87 children with decompensated chronic tonsillitis; group III — 91 children with acute upper respiratory tract infections (comparison group); group IV — 48 children with acute upper respiratory tract infections treated with antibiotic therapy; group V — 49 apparently healthy children (control group). It was found that β-hemolytic streptococcus exerting high sensitivity to virtually all antibiotics groups was detected in 17.4% of children with acute tonsilar inflammatory processes and decompensated defense in the lymphatic pharyngeal ring compared to 3.5% in control group. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated in all study groups ranging within 4.8–21.7%, including 14% in apparently healthy children characterized by reduced antibiotics sensitivity. The data obtained suggest that sickly children with acute and chronic upper respiratory tract infections constitute a risk group for developing somatic diseases. The high incidence of Streptococcus pneumoniae indicates a need for performing immunoprophylaxis, use of therapeutic vaccination as a up-to-date, combined approach in treatment of such pediatric cohort.


1934 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Hoyle

In previous studies of the bacterial flora of the upper respiratory tract and its variations during attacks of acute coryza (Hoyle, 1932), it was found that there was in many cases a striking relationship between the appearance of certain organisms with definite pathogenic properties towards the lower animals, in the upper respiratory tract, and the occurrence of acute infections. This relationship was especially marked in the case of the influenza bacillus, and it was suggested that this organism played a prominent part in the aetiology of upper respiratory infections. The significance of the influenza bacillus in acute coryza has been noted by various workers (Noble, Fisher and Brainard, 1928; Burky and Smillie, 1929; Webster and Clow, 1932; Kneeland and Dawes, 1932), but on the other hand various observers have found the incidence of influenza bacilli in the respiratory tract to be the same in normal health and in acute coryza, and Fleming (1929) and Fleming and Maclean (1930) have devised a technique by means of which they claim to have isolated influenza bacilli in 100 per cent, of normal throats. One possible explanation of these conflicting results may be found in the absence of any very exact criterion of what constitutes a typical influenza bacillus.


2005 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itzhak Brook

Bacterial interactions that include antagonism (interference) and synergism help maintain balance between the members of the normal endogenous flora. Alpha-streptococci that predominate in the normal respiratory tract flora attracted most attention in studies of bacterial interference. Other organisms that possess interfering characteristics in upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are nonhemolytic streptococci, and Prevotella and Peptostreptococcus spp. The production of bacteriocins by some microorganisms is one of the important mechanisms of interference. The role of bacterial interference in the development of URTI and its effect on the eradication of these infections is discussed. These infections include pharyngo-tonsillitis, otitis media, and sinusitis. Treatment with various antimicrobial agents can affect the balance between members of the oro-pharyngeal bacterial flora and interfering organisms. Implantation into the indigenous microflora of low virulence bacterial strains that are potentially capable of interfering with colonization and infection with other more virulent organisms has been used in preliminary studies as a means of coping with the failure of antimicrobials in the treatment of several URTI.


BMJ ◽  
1958 ◽  
Vol 1 (5081) ◽  
pp. 1200-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. L. Masters ◽  
W. Brumfitt ◽  
R. L. Mendez ◽  
M. Likar

2013 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Hirose ◽  
Yoshihiro Yamamoto ◽  
Yasunobu Yoshikai ◽  
Shinji Murosaki

AbstractThe immunomodulatory effects of live or non-viable lactic acid bacteria have been extensively investigated. We reported that oral intake of heat-killedLactobacillus plantarumL-137 (HK L-137) augmented innate and acquired immunity in mice and human subjects. To examine the effects of HK L-137 intake on upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptoms and immune functions in human subjects, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel study was conducted in subjects with high psychological stress levels. A total of seventy-eight healthy subjects (thirty-three men and forty-five women; mean age 50·6 years) with scores of >41 on eighteen-item subscales of psychological distress in the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire were randomly assigned to receive a tablet containing HK L-137 (10 mg) or a placebo tablet daily for 12 weeks. The URTI symptoms were rated once daily on the validated twenty-one-item Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21. Immune functions, such as concanavalin A-induced proliferation and percentages of interferon (IFN)-γ- and IL-4-producing CD4 T cells of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and serum IFN-β concentrations were measured every 4 weeks. URTI incidence was significantly lower in the HK L-137 group than in the control group. URTI incidence, duration and severity, and duration of medication showed significant negative correlations with duration of HK L-137 intake. The percentage change from baseline of concanavalin A-induced proliferation of PBMC was significantly greater in the HK L-137 group than in the control group. These findings suggest that daily HK L-137 intake can decrease URTI incidence in healthy subjects, possibly through augmentation of immune functions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 178-191
Author(s):  
Anna Duda ◽  
Wojciech Stós ◽  
Magdalena Wiosna

This study assesses the effects of the upper respiratory tract width at the level of the adenoid in patients with a normal and abnormal breathing route on basic parameters of the morphology of the facial skeleton. <b>Aim.</b> Comparison of skeletal parameters determining vertical (SNL/ML, NL/ML, NL/ML), sagittal (SNA, SNB) dimensions and type of facial rotation (the angle of the facial axis according to Ricketts) in the study and control groups and determination of the threshold value (a cut-off point) of width according to Holmberg, at which there is a deviation from the average values of basic parameters of morphology of the facial skeleton. <b>Material and methods.</b> The study included 221 patients treated at an orthodontic clinic in Kielce. Based on the medical history taken, clinical examination and subjective evaluation of the upper respiratory tract width according to Holmberg 112 patients were enrolled into the study group and 109 patients into the control group. The width of the upper respiratory tract was measured using the modified Holmberg method and parameters assessing the vertical (SNL/ML, NL/ML) and sagittal (SNA, SNB) dimensions, as well as the anterior angle of the Ricketts’ axis were measured using the analysis of lateral teleroentgenograms of the head. <b>Results.</b> All compared skeletal parameters indicated significant statistical differences between the study and control group. These differences were: Ricketts’ angle 6.5°, SNL/ML 8.5°, NL/ML 9.7°, SNA 2.4°, SNB 1.4°. <b>Conclusions.</b> The width of the upper respiratory tract at the level of the adenoid significantly affects values of skeletal parameters evaluating the vertical (SNL/ML, NL/ML) and sagittal (SNA, SNB) dimensions and the type of rotation of the facial axis. There is a correlation between a gradual decrease in the airway dimension according to Holmberg and an increase in the vertical dimension (SNL/ML, NL/ML) and anterior angle of the Ricketts’ facial axis (posterior rotation of the mandible) and a decrease in the sagittal dimension (SNA, SNB).


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Schulte ◽  
Benjamin Marx ◽  
Marek Korencak ◽  
Dorian Emmert ◽  
Souhaib Aldabbagh ◽  
...  

We present a case of SARS-CoV-2 B.1. 525 infection in a healthcare worker despite the presence of highly neutralizing, multivariant-specific antibodies 7 weeks after full vaccination with the mRNA vaccine BNT162b2. We show that the virus replicated to high levels in the upper respiratory tract over the course of several days in the presence of strong antibody responses. The virus was readily propagatable in vitro, demonstrating the potential to transmit to others, bolstered by the fact that several household members were equally infected. This highlights the importance of protective measures even in vaccinated individuals.


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