Moraxella catarrhalis is a potential pathogenic bacteria, found in upper respiratory tract and can cause local or systemic infectious diseases. Most of the strain produce p-lactamase and resists to p-lactam antibiotics. This study was planed to investigate carriage rate of M. catarrhalis in nasopharynx of 108 healty subjects (52 adults, 56 children), and detect B-lactamase activities and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates. M. catarrhalis was detected in 22 (20.3%) of the 108 subjects. The carriage rates were 30.3% in children and 9.5% in adults. B- lactamase activity was positive in 18 (81.8%) of the 22 isolates. Using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test, the resistance was 81% for ampicillin, 13.6% for cefaclor, 9% for tetracycline, and 9% for trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole. There was no resistance to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, erythromycin, azithromycin, cefuroxime, cefixim, cefotaxime, and ofloxacin. These results indicate that the carriage of M. catarrhalis and the rate of p-lactamase activity of these strains in the community studied were high. Therefore these results should be taken into consideration during the treatment of upper respiratory infections such as tonsillitis or pharyngitis.
Key words: M. catarrhalis, Beta Lactamase, Upper Respiratory Infections
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