Comparison of haemophilus influenzae type b interaction with respiratory mucosa organ cultures maintained with an air interface or immersed in medium.

Haemophilus influenzae type b infection of immersed and air interface organ cultures for 24 h caused significant epithelial damage. Bacterial association with mucus, damaged epithelium, and unciliated cells was significantly higher in air interface than immersed organ cultures, and total bacterial association was 55.8 times greater. Bacteria exhibited tropism for mucus only on explants maintained with an air interface. We conclude that immersion of nasopharyngeal tissue in medium may influence bacterial interaction with the mucosal surface.