Microbiology of Middle Ear Effusions in 60 Children Undergoing Tympanostomy Tube Placement

Abstract

Objective: To analize the bacterial involvement in otitis media with effusion (OME).Materials and Methods: We obtained middle ear effusion samples, under surgical control, from 60 children with OME. Samples underwent microbiological study by using microbiologic culture of the middle ear effusion (MEE)Results: Bacteriological cultures were positive in 75% of OME. Alloiococcus otitidis was the bacteria most frequently isolated (36%) as well as Haemophilus influenzae non-serotype B (23,3%% )Conclusions: Though OME is usually considered a non-infectious disease, bacteria are found from a number of OME samples, and his role as etiological agent should be considered.