Viral and Bacterial Polymicrobial Interactions with Streptococcus pneumoniae in Otitis Media

Abstract

The major pediatric disease otitis media is caused by a variety of bacterial and viral etiological agents, which frequently act in combination to induce polymicrobial middle ear disease. <italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae</italic> is one of the two most commonly isolated bacterial pathogens of otitis media. This dissertation examines interactions of <italic>S. pneumoniae</italic> with nontypeable <italic>Haemophilus influenzae</italic>, the other leading bacterial cause of otitis media, and with adenovirus, a major cause of upper respiratory infections.