Has cerumen a protective role in recurrent external otitis?
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the bactericidal activity of the cerumen in patients with recurrent otitis externa.


METHODS
Cerumen samples were collected from 2 groups. Group A (n = 20) consisted of patients with recurrent otitis externa (2 or more acute otitis externa attack in the current year) and group B (n = 30) consisted of cerumen from a healthy population. We examined the bactericidal activity against the common microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus) that encounter the recurrent otitis externa.


RESULTS
A significant decrease in the count of S epidermidis was observed in group A (P <.05) and B (P <.01) was observed. A comparison of decreases and increases in the percentages of microorganisms between the groups A and B showed that there was a significant difference only in the count of E coli (P <or=.05). The count of E coli decreased in cerumen suspension in group A, but it increased in the normal population.


CONCLUSIONS
We did not confirm that cerumen from patients with recurrent otitis externa had less bactericidal activity than from a healthy population.
Pata
Yavuz Selim
YS
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mersin, Turkey. yavuzpata@hotmail.com
Ozturk
Candan
C
Akbas
Yucel
Y
Gorur
Kemal
K
Unal
Murat
M
Ozcan
Cengiz
C
D002571:Cerumen / Q000502:physiology*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000254:growth & development; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000382:microbiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000254:growth & development; D012008:Recurrence; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000254:growth & development