Kingella kingae and Viral Infections

Abstract

Kingella kingae (K. kingae) is an oropharyngeal commensal agent of toddlers and the primary cause of osteoarticular infections in 6–23-month-old children. Knowing that the oropharynx of young children is the reservoir and the portal of entry of K. kingae, these results suggested that a viral infection may promote K. kingae infection. In this narrative review, we report the current knowledge of the concomitance between K. kingae and viral infections. This hypothesis was first suggested because some authors described that symptoms of viral infections were frequently concomitant with K. kingae infection. Second, specific viral syndromes, such as hand, foot and mouth disease or stomatitis, have been described in children experiencing a K. kingae infection. Moreover, some clusters of K. kingae infection occurring in daycare centers were preceded by viral outbreaks. Third, the major viruses identified in patients during K. kingae infection were human rhinovirus or coxsackievirus, which both belong to the Picornaviridae family and are known to facilitate bacterial infections. Finally, a temporal association was observed between human rhinovirus circulation and K. kingae infection. Although highly probable, the role of viral infection in the K. kingae pathophysiology remains unclear and is based on case description or temporal association. Molecular studies are needed.

Pharyngeal Colonization by Kingella kingae, Transmission, and Pathogenesis of Invasive Infections: A Narrative Review

“…The importance of viral infections in the dissemination of K. kingae among susceptible young children and its role in invasive disease pathogenesis is extensively discussed in an accompanying article in this Special Issue [ 62 ].…”

Kingella kingae Reveals Its Secrets

“…The article by Basmaci et al, explores the temporal association between viral infections, especially those affecting the upper respiratory and buccal epithelial surfaces, with invasive K. kingae disease [ 21 ]. These findings strongly suggest that the mucosal damage induced by a wide variety of viruses facilitates the translocation of the bacterium from the oropharynx, where its presence is innocuous, to the bloodstream, from which it spreads to skeletal tissues and the endocardium, causing invasive disease [ 21 ].…”