title: Hydrogen peroxide in acute otitis media in guinea pigs.
abstract: Evidence has emerged that oxygen free radicals contribute to middle-ear mucosa damage in acute otitis media (AOM). Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most common pathogen in AOM and produces hydrogen peroxide, a free radical intermediate, as it grows. To better characterize the mechanism of free radical damage in AOM, an experiment was conducted to examine the production of hydrogen peroxide. Thirty-two guinea pigs were injected transtympanically with bacteria in the left (infected) middle ear and sterile saline into the right (control) middle ear. Middle-ear fluid was removed and analyzed for quantity of hydrogen peroxide. Results indicated significantly greater hydrogen peroxide levels in infected versus control middle-ear fluid at 6, 12, and 24 h. Likely sources of hydrogen peroxide include both the neutrophil response to infection and pneumococcal growth and death.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Babies and Children's Hospital of New York, New York, 10032, USA.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Takoudes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haddad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000737:chemistry*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide