title: Bacterial colonization of the nose and external ear canal in newborn infants.
abstract: The bacterial flora of the nose and external ear canal of 132 newborn infants, aged 3 days and 4 to 7 days, was examined. Cultures taken from the nose showed the following pattern of bacterial colonization: normal flora (39%); potentially pathologic gram-positive microorganisms (23%); gram-negative enteric rods (16%); and sterile cultures (22%). The most frequent bacterial cultures from nostrils were Staphylococcus epidermidis (39%); Staph. aureus (11%) and Escherichia coli (8%). The cultures from the external ear canal showed normal flora (37%); potentially pathologic gram-positive microorganisms (5%); gram-negative enteric rods (24%); and sterile cultures (34%). The most frequent bacteria cultured from the ear canal were: Staph. epidermidis (37%); E. coli (8%); and Klebsiella pneumoniae (7.5%). Of several factors studied, the type of delivery, Apgar score and the duration of hospitalization were found to have a significant influence on the pattern of bacterial colonization.
mesh_terms: D001034:Apgar Score; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000302:isolation & purification