Upper Respiratory Treact Infections Flashcards
Upper Respiratory Tract
- Nose
- Pharynx
- Paranasal sinuses
- Middle ear
- Larynx
URT
Normal Flora
Primarily coagulase-⊖ Staph and diphtheroids.
Colonization with Pneumococci, S. aureus, Moraxella, Haemophilus frequently present.
URT
Sterile Sites
Sinuses
Middle ear
Larynx
URT
Infections
Pharyngitis
Acute inflammation of the throat ⇒ pain on swallowing and a red, swollen phryngeal mucosa.
-
50-75% caused by viruses and Group A Strep
- Adenovirus 25%
- Rhinoviruses 20%
- Group A Strep 15-30%
- Peak incidence is 3-18 y/o
Otitis Media
Acute inflammation of the middle ear with fever and local pain.
- Purulent fluid accumulates behind a tense, red TM
- May discharge externally after TM rupture
-
Common in children < 3 y/o
- Most get 2-3/yr
- Frequently follows URT infection
- Most commonly caused by:
- Strep. pneumoniae
- Non-typable strains of Haemophilus influenzae
- Moraxella catarrhalis
- Treatment problematic d/t inc. abx resistance
Otitis Media
Risk Factors
- Eustacian tube flatter and more narrow in children
- URT can trap fluids ⇒ colonization by normal flora
- Feeding tilts child into position where tube is flatter & more connected to OP ⇒ fluid can back up
Otitis Media
Treatment
-
⅔ improve within 24 hours without abx
- 80% within 2-5 days
- Advise use of OTC pain relievers, anesthetic drops
-
Wait 24 hours before giving abx
- 24 months or older
- Otherwise healthy
- Mild sx or unclear dx
- Offer observation in 6-24 month olds
- Pathogens can cause meningitis ⇒ must monitor
Otitis Media
Bacterial Pathogens
Moraxella
Overview
- Moraxella catarrhalis ⇒ most important
- Related to Neisseriae
- Gram ⊖ diplococcus
Moraxella
Transmission
- Transmitted by respiratory secretions
- Transient carriage/colonization normally
- Colonization of URT in 40-50% of school children
-
Endogenous infection
- Usually precipitated by URT infection
Moraxella
Clinical Syndromes
- 3rd highest cause of otitis media and sinusitis
- Also causes bronchitis, PNA, and conjunctivitis
- Esp. the elderly, immunocompromised, or those with chronic pulmonary disease
Moraxella
Diagnosis
-
Small, coffee-bean shaped gram ⊖ diplococci
- Likes to lie side by side
- Strict aerobe
- Oxidase ⊕
-
Does not ferment carbs
- Unlike Neisseriae
- Grows well on blood agar
- Prefers chocolate agar
Moraxella
Treatment
~100% of strains are beta-lactamase producers
PCN resistant
Usually treat with cephalosporins
Haemophilus influenzae
Characteristics
- Small, gram ⊖ rods (cocco-bacillus)
- Complex nutritional requirements
- X factor ⇒ hematin
- V factor ⇒ NAD or NADP
- Grows well on chocolate agar
- Grows poorly on blood agar
- Small satellite colonies grow around colonies of S. aureus or other factor V excreting organisms ⇒ satellite phenomenon
- ± polysaccharide capsules
- Classified based on capsule type ⇒ typable vs non-typable
H. influenzae
Typable Strains
-
Encapsulated ⇒ Types a-f
- Typed based on antisera rxn to capsular polysaccharide
- HiB most invasive
- HiF incidence increasing
- Exogenous transmission
- Colonization uncommon
- ~5% of children
- < 0.5% of adults
- 1° pathogens ⇒ meningitis, bacteremia, epiglottitis
H. influenzae
Non-Typable Strains
- Non-encapsulated
- Colonize 60-90% of children, 30-50% of adults
- Endogenous transmission
- Opportunistic ⇒ otitis media, sinusitis, pharyngitis, PNA
H. influenzae
Transmission & Epidemiology
- Transmitted by respiratory secretions
-
Severe disease 1° in children 6-18 m/o and the elderly
- Ab levels lowest
- PRP polysaccharide is a T-cell independent Ag
- B-cell response to PRP poor under 18 m/o
- Systemic spread only typical for encapsulated strains
- Esp. HiB
- Bacteremia can lead to infection of CNS, bones, and joints
H. influenzae
Virulence Factors
-
Polysaccharide capsule
- Antiphagocytic
- Blocks complement activation
-
IgA protease
- Avoids immune response at mucosal surface
-
Outer membrane proteins
- Attachment and adherence
-
Endotoxin
- Gram ⊖
H. influenzae
Type B
- Most invasive strain
- Causes 90% of all H. influenzae infections
- Virulence due to unique polyribose-ribitol phosphate (PRP) capsule
- Contains pentose sugar
- ⊗ Phagocytosis
- ⊗ Alternative complement activation
- ⊗ Ciliary function
- Damages respiratory epithelium
- Penetrates epithelial and endothelial walls ⇒ dissemination
H. influenzae
Clinical Syndromes
- # 2 cause of otitis media and sinusitis
-
Epiglottitis
- HiB only
- PNA
- Prominent in pts w/ underlying lung disease or debilitating conditions like malnutrition, lung CA, alcoholism
- Bacteremia
- Mostly encapsulated strains only
- Meningitis
- HiB only
- Usually follows URT infection
- Most common in unimmunized children 5 m/o-5 y/o
- More cases before vaccine available
Acute Epiglottitis
- Caused by HiB only
-
Inflammed, swollen, cherry-red epiglottis
- Protrudes and obstructs airway
- Fever, sore throat, hoarseness, barking cough
- Can result in death due to suffocation if untreated
- Children < 6 y/o most at risk d/t smaller airways
- Local invasion ⇒ bacteremia ⇒ epiglottis