Unseen adults could potentially harbor Streptococcus pneumoniae, even without displaying symptoms.

In a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, researchers from Portugal have discovered that adults can carry the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus, for several months. The study, which followed 87 healthy adults aged 25-50 for six months, aimed to understand the colonizing dynamics of pneumococcus in this age group.

The research, conducted in collaboration with ITQB NOVA's Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology of Human Pathogens, used a high-sensitivity method called qPCR to detect pneumococci, even when their density was low. This method proved crucial in identifying cases where the bacterium was present at low levels.

One of the key findings was that the median duration of carriage was almost two months, which is higher than previously reported. Interestingly, some adults were found to carry pneumococcus for more than 6 months, the duration of the study. However, the duration of carriage in adults did not depend on regular contact with children.

Adults who lived with children, on the other hand, showed a higher risk of acquiring pneumococcus. This finding underscores the importance of maintaining good hygiene practices, especially in households with children, to reduce the risk of transmission.

The study also estimated that the risk of an adult being colonized with pneumococci at least once during a period of one year was 57.5%. This high rate of colonization suggests that pneumococcal disease, while relatively rare among active healthy adults, is more common than previously thought.

Pneumococcal disease is a significant health concern, being the most common cause of community-acquired bacterial pneumonia in adults in Europe. It is also the third-leading cause of death in Portugal.

The study's DOI is 10.1093/infdis/jiaa558, making it easily accessible for further research and analysis. Nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and saliva samples were collected periodically and screened for the presence of pneumococcus using molecular methods like real-time PCR.

This study provides valuable insights into the dynamics of pneumococcal carriage in healthy adults, contributing to our understanding of this important human pathogen and potentially informing future public health strategies.

Unseen adults could potentially harbor Streptococcus pneumoniae, even without displaying symptoms.