Nasopharyngeal bacterial colonisation in HIV-positive children in Cambodia.

OBJECTIVE

To determine patterns of nasopharyngeal colonisation in HIV-positive children.

METHODS

Nasopharyngeal, nasal and ear swabs were prospectively taken from all children living in two paediatric nursing homes for HIV-positive orphans in Cambodia from 2004 to 2011.

RESULTS

A total of 882 swabs were taken, of which 586 tested positive for bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated species (178 isolates; 30.4%) followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae (103 isolates; 17.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (99 isolates; 16.9%). The rate of S. pneumoniae decreased in 2009 when a vaccination programme was introduced.

CONCLUSIONS

The respiratory tract of HIV-positive children receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy is commonly colonised by S. aureus and S. pneumoniae, while other species normally found in the respiratory tract, such as Moraxella catarrhalis, are far less frequent.