TY - JOUR

T1 - Early life bacterial airway colonization, local immune mediator response and risk of otitis media

AU - Christensen, Emil Dalgaard

AU - Thorsen, Jonathan

AU - Stokholm, Jakob

AU - Pedersen, Tine Marie

AU - Brix, Susanne

AU - Krogfelt, Karen Angeliki

AU - Schjørring, Susanne

AU - Chawes, Bo

AU - Bønnelykke, Klaus

AU - Bisgaard, Hans

AU - Rasmussen, Morten Arendt

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Introduction. Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common bacterial infection in early childhood, but the underlying mechanisms making some children more susceptible are poorly understood. Aim. To examine the associations between bacterial airway colonization in early life and the risk of AOM and tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI), and whether such associations are modulated by an insufficient local immune mediator response to bacterial colonization. Methodology. Bacterial cultures from hypopharyngeal samples were obtained at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of age in the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 (COPSAC2010) cohort comprising 700 children. Twenty immune mediators were quantified from airway mucosal lining fluid sampled at 1 month. AOM symptoms were registered in a daily diary until 3 years. Information on TTI in the first 3 years was obtained from national registers. Results. Children colonized with Streptococcus pneumoniae at 1 month of age had increased incidence of AOM [aIRR 2.43 (1.14–5.21)] and children colonized with Moraxella catarrhalis at 1 month or Haemophilus influenzae at 3 months had an increased risk of TTI [aHR 1.45 (1.00–2.10) and 1.73 (1.10–2.71)]. There were no associations between the local immune mediator response to colonization and risk of AOM or TTI. Conclusion. Pathogenic bacterial airway colonization in early life was found to be associated with an increased risk of otitis media, albeit not consistently. These associations were independent of the local immune response to colonization.

AB - Introduction. Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common bacterial infection in early childhood, but the underlying mechanisms making some children more susceptible are poorly understood. Aim. To examine the associations between bacterial airway colonization in early life and the risk of AOM and tympanostomy tube insertion (TTI), and whether such associations are modulated by an insufficient local immune mediator response to bacterial colonization. Methodology. Bacterial cultures from hypopharyngeal samples were obtained at 1 week, 1 month and 3 months of age in the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 (COPSAC2010) cohort comprising 700 children. Twenty immune mediators were quantified from airway mucosal lining fluid sampled at 1 month. AOM symptoms were registered in a daily diary until 3 years. Information on TTI in the first 3 years was obtained from national registers. Results. Children colonized with Streptococcus pneumoniae at 1 month of age had increased incidence of AOM [aIRR 2.43 (1.14–5.21)] and children colonized with Moraxella catarrhalis at 1 month or Haemophilus influenzae at 3 months had an increased risk of TTI [aHR 1.45 (1.00–2.10) and 1.73 (1.10–2.71)]. There were no associations between the local immune mediator response to colonization and risk of AOM or TTI. Conclusion. Pathogenic bacterial airway colonization in early life was found to be associated with an increased risk of otitis media, albeit not consistently. These associations were independent of the local immune response to colonization.

KW - Cytokines

KW - Haemophilus influenzae

KW - Moraxella catarrhalis

KW - Otitis media

KW - Streptococcus pneumoniae

KW - Tympanostomy tube insertion

U2 - 10.1099/jmm.0.001227

DO - 10.1099/jmm.0.001227

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32597749

AN - SCOPUS:85090079570

VL - 69

SP - 1124

EP - 1131

JO - Journal of Medical Microbiology

JF - Journal of Medical Microbiology

SN - 0022-2615

IS - 8

ER -