Bacterial adherence to epithelial cells in the nasopharynx in children.

The presence of attached bacteria to epithelial cells from the nasopharyngeal surface of the soft palate, from the adenoid surface and from the secretions covering the adenoid was studied in 10 children undergoing adenoidectomy. Large numbers of bacteria were seen to attach to mature normal squamous epithelial cells from the soft palate and in the secretions, whereas attachment to adenoid epithelial cells was rare. Using differential interference contrast microscopy, bacteria-carrying epithelial cells were seen to have their surface covered by microridges characteristic of normal mature squamous epithelial cells. Sections of adenoid tissue showed bacterial infiltration of adenoid tissue to be virtually nonexistent in the patient group.