[Bacterial epidemiological study of acute otitis media in children observed at home in the Nord Pas-de-Calais region].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this work is the study of the bacteriologic epidemiology of acute otitis media in infants observed at home in Nord Pas-de-Calais area, and the analysis of bacteria associated to recurrent otitis and clinical failure.


METHODS
A total of 295 specimens of ear pus specimens were collected from children (mean age: 18 months; average: one month-12 years). Pneumococcus strains were isolated from 52% of samples and 80% of these showed resistance to penicillin. H. influenzae was found in 35% of specimens and the half produced a beta lactamase. Pneumococcus is the predominant pathogen isolated in prolonged otitis media, while H. influenzae is preferentially found during recurrent otitis media. The main bacteriologic cause of failure traitement was penicillin-intermediate or -resistant pneumococci. The therapy administered 48 to 72 hours before collection of ear pus sample in therapeutic failure was ineffective (oral cephalosporins or macrolides), or administered to low dosage (50 mg/kg/j).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate, in opposition to other studies, Streptococcus pneumoniae as the most frequent pathogen in acute otitis media. They also show the excellent correlation between antibiotic therapy and clinical failures.
Husson
M O
MO
Laboratoire de bactériologie-hygiène, hôpital A. Calmette, CHRU, boulevard du Pr J. Leclercq, 59037 Lille, France. mohusson@chru.lille.fr
Pierreti
A
A
Quelquejay
J
J
Vaneecloo
F M
FM
Courcol
R J
RJ
Vincent
C
C
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005602:France; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology*; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D012008:Recurrence; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013492:Suppuration / Q000382:microbiology
Etude de l'épidémiologie bactérienne de l'otite moyenne aiguë de l'enfant observée en ville dans la région Nord Pas-de-Calais.