ADHERENCE OF NONTYPABLE HAEMOPHILUS-INFLUENZAE TO RESPIRATORY EPITHELIUM OF OTITIS-PRONE AND NORMAL-CHILDREN

Three hundred six children were enrolled at birth in a prospective stu dy of otitis media and followed up for 2 years. Adherence of nontypeab le Haemophilus influenzae to buccal epithelial cells was compared betw een otitis-prone children and age and sex-matched normal controls at b irth, 1 year, and 2 years. The mean +/- SD/median percent adherence wa s similar for the two groups at birth (1.6 +/- 2.3/1.0 versus 1.2 +/- 1.4/1.0; NS) and at 2 years (1.6 +/- 1.7/1.5 versus 2.1 +/- 2.1/1.5; N S). At 1 year of age the adherence rate for the otitis-prone group (2. 4 +/- 2.6/1.0) was statistically greater than that for the control gro up (1.0 +/- 1.3/0.0; p < .02). Because this difference is probably cli nically insignificant, other explanations must be sought for the incre ased colonization rates of nontypeable H influenzae observed in otitis -prone children.