Asymptomatic Carriage of Respiratory Pathogens: "The Wolf shall Dwell with the Lamb…and a Little Child shall Lead them" (Isaiah 11: 6)

摘要: The human respiratory mucosa becomes colonized by a wide array of bacterial species in early life. Residing microorganisms comprise commensal as well potentially virulent that have adapted to and co-evolved with their host. Because the specific environmental conditions prevalent tract, colonizing organisms developed functionally similar components enable them thrive on mucosal surfaces establish chains person-to-person spread through droplet transmission. Members normal flora exhibit complex relations ranging from cooperation mutual interference. This is maintained under strict control integrity epithelium immunological phenomena, whereas residing bacteria show remarkable antigenic variability guarantees survival constant turnover strains. overall composition carried can be deeply affected antibiotic exposure use conjugate vaccines. Although carriage usually asymptomatic, contributory factors such young age, primary or acquired immunodeficiencies, viral infections, emergence hypervirulent clones, may facilitate development systemic disease.