Bacteriology in Secretory Otitis Media

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal cultures from children with longstanding Secretory Otitis Media (SOM), obtained under general anaesthesia, disclosed colonization of respiratory pathogens in 79% of the cases, though there was no evidence for recent infection in the ENT region. In a partly overlapping series of cultures from the middle ear effusions the same strains of respiratory pathogens were isolated in 18% of the cases. The pathogens, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Branhamella catarrhalis, appeared as single species or in various combinations. The occurrence of beta-lactamase producing strains may inactivate betalactam antibiotics. There is cause to believe that an antibiotic with special characteristics should be looked for, to be used on strictly chosen indications in an attempt to increase the resolution of SOM.