Clinical impact of Moraxella catarrhalis detection in respiratory illnesses: a comparative study of pediatric and adult populations in Taiwan.
This retrospective Taiwanese study of 731 patients with Moraxella catarrhalis-positive specimens found age-specific clinical patterns and identified prematurity, rhinovirus co-detection, and Gram-negative bacilli detection as factors associated with respiratory failure in children.
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This retrospective Taiwanese study of 731 patients with Moraxella catarrhalis-positive specimens found age-specific clinical patterns and identified prematurity, rhinovirus co-detection, and Gram-negative bacilli detection as factors associated with respiratory failure in children.
Research significance
The evidence supports these features as observational risk markers, not treatment targets; it may be inferred that incorporating prematurity and co-detection results into pediatric risk assessment could help prioritize monitoring or supportive care, but clinical benefit and relevance to children with cancer were not tested.
Source abstract
BACKGROUND: Moraxella catarrhalis is a prevalent respiratory pathogen in children and adults. While its roles in acute otitis media and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations are well-established, its clinical significance in respiratory specimens-especially concerning co-pathogens and disease severity-remains unclear in the post-pneumococcal conjugate vaccine and post-COVID-19 era. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients with M. catarrhalis-positive clinical specimens collected at a tertiary medical center in Taiwan from January 2015 to December 2023. We compared demographics, comorbidities, clinical features, and outcomes between pediatric (<18 years) and adult patients. Seasonal patterns were assessed using χ2 tests and a negative binomial regression model for secular trends. Age-specific multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with respiratory failure. RESULTS: Among 731 patients, 515 were children and 216 were adults. Pediatric cases often involved viral co-detection, while adults showed more polymicrobial bacterial detection. Prematurity, asthma, and allergic diseases were common in children, whereas chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and malignancy prevailed in adults. Children typically presented with upper or non-pneumonic lower respiratory tract illness, while adults had higher pneumonia rates. Monthly case counts peaked in late autumn and winter, with this pattern less pronounced after calendar year adjustments. Prematurity (aOR, 3.97), rhinovirus co-detection (aOR, 4.23) and Gram-negative bacilli detection (aOR 4.90) were linked to respiratory failure in children, while chronic kidney disease (aOR, 3.60) and viral co-detection (aOR, 8.31) were significant in adults. CONCLUSION: The clinical implications of M. catarrhalis detection differ by age, highlighting distinct vulnerabilities and microbial interactions.