title: Microbiology of chronic suppurative otitis media in children.
abstract: The aerobic microorganisms present in 51 middle ears of 36 children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma were evaluated. Specimens were taken directly from the middle ear through a patent perforation or tympanostomy tube and cultured using standard techniques. Twenty-three microbiologic species were identified, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most prevalent (67% of ears) and the only organism in 31% of ears. The initial treatment of all patients was intravenous administration of an antimicrobial selected on the basis of culture and susceptibility reports; this treatment was successful in all but four children, who subsequently required tympanomastoid surgery. These results indicate that medical therapy, based on the results of culture and susceptibility studies, provides a viable alternative to major mastoid surgery in the management of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kenna
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bluestone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology*; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification