The influence of influenza virus infection on exogenous staphylococcal and endogenous murine bacterial infection of the bronchopulmonary tissues of mice

Abstract

Mice infected with a non-mouse-adapted Asian strain of influenza A virus suffered an impaired capacity to destroy or remove staphylococci introduced by the respiratory route. This temporary inhibition of local defense mechanisms was of 7 to 10 days' duration. The persistence of staphylococci in the lung following influenza did not appear to alter the nature of the pathologic reaction to influenza virus. The presence of influenza virus infection in the respiratory tract of the mouse did not alter the fate of intravenous staphylococci in the lung or other organs. In 40 to 50 per cent of mice with influenza, purulent bronchopneumonia and infection with Pasteurella and Hemophilus of murine origin were noted. A minority of control animals evidenced such infection. The administration of antimicrobials to which the murine bacteria were susceptible prevented both the appearance of the endogenous infection with Pasteurella or Hemophilus and the purulent sequelae to influenza virus infection. The true picture of uncomplicated bronchopulmonary influenza virus infection was thus separated from the combined virus-bacteria effect otherwise encountered.