title: [Incidence of otitis externa following swimming pool attendance--a case study in 6 indoor pools].
abstract: A bacteriological study of the microflora in the auditory meatus of patients with otitis externa after swimming in correlation to the water flora was done during winter 80/81. Six indoor-pools (monthly controls ahead had proven unobjectionable water quality) were analyzed daily, while all swimmers were asked to come for otologic examination whenever symptoms of otitis externa appeared. In a control group without otitis externa the auditory canal was inspected and swabs were taken immediately after swimming. The results indicate, that a short term contamination of the ear canal is possible by swimming in water of unobjectionable quality; this however does not necessarily lead to clinical appearances. Since the incidence of otitis externa in our study (0.01%) was not higher than the morbidity rate in nonswimmers, the data support the concept of the multiplex etiology for otitis externa.
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013550:Swimming; D013551:Swimming Pools; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014867:Water
vernacular_title: Das Auftreten von Otitis externa nach Schwimmbadbesuchen - eine Fallstudie in 6 Hallenbädern.