Bacterial adherence to pharyngeal cells during viral infection.

Adherence of bacteria to pharyngeal cells from patients with naturally acquired acute respiratory illness and from volunteers experimentally infected with influenza virus vaccine was studied. Increased adherence of Staphylococcus aureus was found in both groups. In addition, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae type I adhered in increased numbers to cells from volunteers experimentally infected with influenza virus. Alterations in mucosal cells leading to increased bacterial adherence may play a role in the pathogenesis of suprainfection by these organisms in patients with viral respiratory diseases.