Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus in a Brazilian elderly cohort

PLoS One. 2019 Aug 22;14(8):e0221525. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221525. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

We aimed to investigate the nasopharyngeal colonization (NPC) by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Staphylococcus aureus in the elderly population and to assess the demographic factors associated with NPC. This was an observational cohort study in which outpatients aged ≥60 years were enrolled from April to August 2017, with a follow-up visit from September through December 2017. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs were collected, bacteria were detected and isolated, and isolates were subjected to phenotypic and molecular characterization using standard microbiological techniques. At enrolment, the rates of S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae among 776 elderly outpatients were 15.9%, 2.3%, 2.5%, and 2.2%, respectively. Toxin production was detected in 21.1% of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus, and three SCCmec types were identified: II/IIb, IVa, and VI. At the follow-up visit, all carriage rates were similar (p > 0.05) to the rates at enrolment. Most of S. pneumoniae serotypes were not included in pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), except for 7F, 3, and 19A. All strains of H. influenzae were non-typeable. Previous use of antibiotics and 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination (p < 0.05) were risk factors for S. aureus and MRSA carriage; S. aureus colonization was also associated with chronic kidney disease (p = 0.021). S. pneumoniae carriage was associated with male gender (p = 0.032) and an absence of diabetes (p = 0.034), while not receiving an influenza vaccine (p = 0.049) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (p = 0.031) were risk factors for H. influenzae colonization. The frailty of study participants was not associated with colonization status. We found a higher S. aureus carriage rate compared with the S. pneumoniae- and H. influenzae-carriage rates in a well-attended population in a geriatric outpatient clinic. This is one of the few studies conducted in Brazil that can support future colonization studies among elderly individuals.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Brazil
  • Carrier State / microbiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Haemophilus influenzae / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharynx / microbiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology*
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / physiology*

Grants and funding

This investigation was supported by Pfizer, Inc. (USA). The contract was made by FUNAPE (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa - UFG) and all payments have been done by FUNAPE-UFG. The Pfizer had no involvement in the study design, in the sample collection, analysis and interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, and in the decision to submit the article for publication. MCCB and ALA have received grant (No. 304211/2014-1 and 306096/2010-2) from National Council for Scientific and Technological Development/CNPq; SCGA, MDS and CD report travel during the conduct of the study paid by FUNAPE-UFG; MDS, LFR, JLLC, TCAR, CD have received personal fees during the conduct of the study paid by FUNAPE-UFG; RCZ, MCCB, SCG, APS, CTS, CRG, MGG, LOF, WJF received no specific funding for this work; and Centre for Studies and Research on Aging reports grants from FUNAPE-UFG.