title: Effect of systemic antibiotics on the microbial flora of the external ear canal in hospitalized children.
abstract: The effect of antibiotic therapy and hospitalization on the external ear canal flora was investigated in 131 children. Fifty-eight percent of the patients receiving antibiotic therapy had Gram-negative bacilli or yeasts in their external ear canal, compared with 17% of the patients who were hospitalized for ten days or longer and only 3% of the patients who were hospitalized for short periods. Antibiotic therapy is the major factor in determining the colonization rate of the external ear canal with potentially pathogenic flora. Children under 1 year of age seem to be the most susceptible group to this shift of flora.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000382:microbiology*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011511:Proteus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents