Streptococcus pneumoniae prevalence in nasopharynx, oropharynx and gingival sulcus in Brazilian adults:A preliminary study

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis Vol. 156; p. 104924
• Main Authors: Lomardo, P.G., Cardoso-Marques, N.T., Motta, L.A., Aguiar, T.R.S., Neves, F.P.G., Aguiar-Alves, F., Calasans-Maia, M.D., Quinelato, V., Casado, P.L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2021
• Subjects: Adults; drug therapy; genes; Gingival sulcus; Nasopharyngeal; nasopharynx; Oropharyngeal; oropharynx; pathogenesis; polymerase chain reaction; serotypes; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Oropharyngeal; Gingival sulcus; Nasopharyngeal; Adults; Streptococcus pneumoniae
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2021.104924

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of S. pneumoniae colonization in three different sites in healthy adults: nasopharynx, oropharynx and gingival sulcus. Two-hundred and sixty five adults, aged 20–60 years, who attended dental clinics in one public university (n = 106) and one military institution (n = 159) were enrolled in this study. Pneumococcal detection was performed by direct culture (DC) and PCR for lytA gene after a broth enrichment step. Capsular types were determined by sequential multiplex PCR. We identified 18 (6.8%) pneumococcal carriers among 265 adults by PCR, but only one (0.4%) pneumococcal strain was isolated by DC method. Oropharynx (17; 6.4%) was the main source of S. pneumoniae. Colonization of gingival sulcus and nasopharynx was found in 4 (1.5%) and 2 (0.8%) adults, respectively. Nine distinct capsular types were detected from 9 adults and co-colonization with 2 serotypes was confirmed in 4 (1.5%) subjects. Factors associated with carriage were being females, low level of schooling, non-military and regular medication. We observed a low (6.8%) pneumococcal carriage prevalence, but oropharyngeal samples yielded more sensitive results, especially by the PCR-based detection methodology. Gingival sulcus was found to be a possible reservoir for S. pneumoniae independently of the oropharynx or nasopharynx colonization. •Plaque, from dental surface and lung, may be a reservoir for respiratory pathogens.•There is a potencial association between pneumonia and periodontal disease.•DNA-based methods are more sensitive than culture to detect pneumococcus from clinical specimens.•This is the first report to determine the prevalence of S. pneumoniae colonization in three different sites.•Gingival sulcus and nasopharynx was found to be a source of colonization by S. pneumoniae.