title: Advances in understanding the pathogenesis of pneumococcal otitis media.
abstract: In this review, a state of the art on otitis media research is provided with emphasis on the role of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the pathogenesis of this disease. Articles have been selected by MEDLINE search supplemented with a manual crosscheck of bibliographies. Pathogenic mechanisms in middle ear and eustachian tube are described. Furthermore, pneumococcal characteristics and pneumococcus-host interactions are highlighted as well as the possible role of biofilms in persistence or recurrence of otitis media. Because of the availability of new techniques, an increasing number of pneumococcal features contributing in the pathogenesis of otitis media are identified and in-depth knowledge of pneumococcus-host interactions has been gained. The present advances in research on otitis media open up new perspectives for therapeutic or preventive strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. e.tonnaer@kno.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Edith L G M
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Tonnaer
authors.forename: Kees
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Graamans
authors.forename: Elisabeth A M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Jo H A J
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Curfs
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018441:Biofilms; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents