Moraxella catarrhalis

Common card · No. 338491

Moraxella catarrhalis (formerly Branhamella catarrhalis) is a bacterium that infects humans, mainly in the upper airways and middle ear. It is a Gram-negative, oxygen-using, paired-sphere (diplococcus) bacterium that often lives in the nose and throat, especially in young children, without causing harm. It is a common cause of ear and respiratory infections. In children it is a significant cause of middle ear infection (otitis media) and sinusitis. In adults it can cause bronchitis and pneumonia, especially in older people, long-term smokers and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), where it is estimated to cause about 10% of flare-ups. Less often it infects the eye, bloodstream or joints, mostly in people with weakened immune systems or chronic illness. Most strains are resistant to penicillin and ampicillin because they produce the enzyme beta-lactamase, so other antibiotics, such as amoxicillin-clavulanate, are used. No vaccine is currently available, but candidates...

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