Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 June 2007
Viable and non-viable B. catarrhalis were mixed together with S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae and injected into non-bacterial mucoid effusion material collected from the middle ear of patients with a present secretory otitis media. The samples were incubated at 37°C. Presence of viable B. catarrhalis could evidently prolong the survival of both S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. Presence of non-viable B. catarrhalis could also enhance the growth of S. pneumoniae, but not H. influenzae. In contrast both S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae suppressed the growth of B. catarrhalis.