Keywords:
Australian Aboriginal children; avidity; IgG; immunology; otitis media; Haemophilus infection;
Haemophilus influenzae
Abstract:
Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is the most common bacterial otopathogen associated with otitis media (OM). NTHi persists in biofilms within the middle ears of children with chronic and recurrent OM. Australian Aboriginal children suffer exceptionally high rates of chronic and recurrent OM compared to non-Aboriginal children.