Presence ofBranhamella catarrhalisalters the survival ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeandHaemophilus influenzaein middle ear effusion: Anin vitrostudy

Viable and non-viable B. catarrhalis were mixed together with S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae and injected into non-bacterial mucoid effusion material collected from the middle ear of patients with a present secretory otitis media. The samples were incubated at 37 degrees C. Presence of viable B. catarrhalis could evidently prolong the survival of both S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Presence of non-viable B. catarrhalis could also enhance the growth of S. pneumoniae, but not H. influenzae. In contrast both S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae suppressed the growth of B. catarrhalis.