Bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells of the nasopharynx essential in the development of otitis media

: Otitis media develops when certain bacterial pathogens gain access to the middle ear cavity from the nasopharynx through the eustachian tube. Adhesion of bacteria, in particular Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae, to the non-ciliated epithelial cells of the nasopharynx, close to the opening of the eustachian tube, is significantly correlated to the otitis-prone condition in children. Otitis-prone children have significantly fewer bacteria in the nasopharynx coated with the immunoglobulin secretory IgA (SigA) then healthy children have. Adhesion and occurrence of middle ear pathogens in the nasopharynx decreases with advancing age. Epstein-Barr virus, causative agent of infectious mononucleosis, causes a remarkable increase in bacterial adhesion to epithelial cells.