Molecular Characterization of Moraxella Catarrhalis Isolates From Pneumonic Children at Pediatric Assiut University Hospital

moraxella catarrhalis is responsible for respiratory tract infection in children and adults with streptococcus pneumonia and haemophilus influenza.Moraxella catarrhalis is gram negative diplococci, non-motile and non spore bearing bacteria. Until, 1995 it was considered as a non pathogenic respiratory tract flora.This bacteria is an important pathogen and a common cause of both upper and lower respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, sinusitis and conjunctivitis in infants, children and in elderly patients. In adults, M. catarrhalis also causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. However, it is associated with a number of respiratory infections affecting both children and adults, including laryngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia .