A Maleki - Science Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
F Mansournia - Masters, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
N Sadeghifard - Professor, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran

There is a direct correlation between asymptomatic oropharyngeal colonization by pathogenic bacteria and the prevalence of paediatric respiratory infections. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae are common cause of serious bacterial infections such as meningitis in children. This study aimed to monitor healthy children to detect asymptomatic carriers of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. In the present cross-sectional study, real-time PCR assay was developed and evaluated in comparison with culture for direct detection of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae in ۱۲۳ oropharynx and nasal cavity specimens from healthy children in Ilam, Iran. In addition, virulence factor (ply and hpd) and iron uptake (tbpA and piuA) genes were evaluated by PCR. Our results demonstrated that among all isolates only ۱۴ S. pneumoniae and eight H. influenzae were identified by phenotypic methods, whereas ۳۷ and ۲۱ S. pneumoniae and H. influenza were identified, respectively, by real-time PCR assay. All S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae isolates possessed tbpA and piuA genes. Also,۸۱% (۳۰/۳۷) of S. pneumoniae isolates were positive for ply gene, which encoded pneumolysin, as well as ۹۰% (۱۹/۲۱) of H. influenza isolates were positive for hpd gene. Simultaneous colonization of S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae could indicate the importance of monitoring of healthy children to identification of carriers.

Detection, Haemophilus influenzae, iron uptake, real-time PCR assay, Streptococcus pneumoniae, virulence factors