Microbiology of middle ear effusions from 292 patients undergoing tympanostomy tube placement for middle ear disease. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2005 Jun;69(6):799-804
Date
05/12/2005Pubmed ID
15885332DOI
10.1016/j.ijporl.2005.01.012Scopus ID
2-s2.0-18844414516 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 40 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Otitis media is one of the most commonly diagnosed childhood illnesses. Ideally, culture directed therapy for otitis media would be available, however, the common approach is to treat infections with antibiotics that cover the most common pathogens. The objective of this study is to describe the pathogens cultured from the middle ear effusions (MEE) of patients that underwent tympanostomy tube placement for middle ear disease, compare these results with previous studies, and assess for trends suggestive of changes in the microbiology of these patients.
METHODS: Patients were invited to participate after the decision to place ventilation tubes had been made. A standard anterior-inferior myringotomy was made for placement of the ventilation tube. After myringotomy, patients had their ears suctioned and all effusions were collected for microbiologic analysis.
RESULTS: A total of 292 patients were enrolled in the study, a total of 270 MEE samples were taken. Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis were seen in 24 of 148 (16.2%) and 15 of 148 (10.1%), respectively. Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium species were each identified in 11 of the 148 pathogens isolated (7.4%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified in 6 of the 148 isolated pathogens (4.1%).
CONCLUSION: Despite a high number of non-pathogenic bacteria, and a high number of culture negative effusions, we demonstrated pathogen rates consistent with other reports in the literature. Future directions include using more specific techniques such as PCR to better understand the microbiology of middle ear effusions.
Author List
Poetker DM, Lindstrom DR, Edmiston CE, Krepel CJ, Link TR, Kerschner JEAuthors
Joseph E. Kerschner MD Provost, Executive Vice President, Dean, Professor in the School of Medicine Administration department at Medical College of WisconsinT Roxanne Link NP APP Outpatient in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
David M. Poetker MD Chief, Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
CandidaChronic Disease
Exudates and Transudates
Female
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Humans
Infant
Male
Middle Ear Ventilation
Otitis Media with Effusion
Recurrence
Severity of Illness Index
