title: Bacteriology of middle ear effusions.
abstract: We studied fluid obtained from middle ear effusions (MEEs) during 908 myringotomy and tube insertion procedures on 495 children aged 4 months to 12 years. Under general anesthesia the external auditory canal was sterilized with povidone-iodine (Betadine) and alcohol, and myringotomy was done. Fluid was aspirated into a Luki tube and sent for culture and sensitivity determination. The median age of patients was 3 years 5 months; 1-year-old children comprised the largest single group. Two thirds of the children were male. Effusion was present in three fourths of the ears; in about 20% of these, culture grew bacteria. Haemophilus influenzae made up almost 50% of the pathogens, with the percentage decreasing with age. Almost 90% of the H influenzae organisms were sensitive to erythromycin, and about three fourths to ampicillin and cephalosporin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550.
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Calhoun
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Norris
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hokanson
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Stiernberg
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents