New insight into upper respiratory tract microbes

Researchers at the University of Southampton have discovered new insight into upper respiratory tract microbes.

In a new paper, published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, the Swab Study for the Microbial Analysis of the Respiratory Tract (SMART) found different carriage epidemiology of respiratory pathogens depending on what time of year the sample was taken. 

They found that carriage prevalence was higher in in the spring/summer (May to August) compared to winter/early spring (February to April) and also in older individuals. Overall carriage was shown to vary with age, whether or not the participant had a recent RTI, and the presence of other respiratory pathogens.

Dr Stuart Clarke who led the study alongside colleagues in Medicine and Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences, said: “The difference in seasons was a surprise since it is generally assumed that carriage is higher in the winter months. However, it’s important to note that as it’s carriage this may not be reflected in disease due to other transmission factors but could be in at-risk individuals or if there were an epidemic or pandemic virus that made people vulnerable.”