Spray bacteriotherapy decreases middle ear fluid in children with secretory otitis media.
OBJECTIVE
Secretory otitis media (SOM) is characterised by persistent fluid in the middle ear cavity, but the cause is unknown. We investigated the clinical, bacteriological and immunological effects of treatment with probiotic bacteria on SOM.


METHODS
In this double-blind pilot/preliminary study, 60 children with long-standing SOM (median 6 months) who were scheduled for insertion of tympanostomy tubes were randomised to nasal spray treatment with Streptococcus sanguinis, Lactobacillus rhamnosus or placebo for 10 days before surgery. Clinical evaluation was carried out after 10 days of treatment. Middle ear fluid (MEF) was collected during surgery for quantification of cytokines and detection of bacteria by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained before treatment and at surgery.


RESULTS
Complete or significant clinical recovery occurred in 7/19 patients treated with S sanguinis compared to 1/17 patients in the placebo group (p<0.05). In the L rhamnosus treatment group, 3/18 patients were cured or much better (p = 0.60 compared with placebo). Spray treatment did not alter the composition of the nasopharyngeal flora or the cytokine pattern observed in the nasopharynx or MEF, except for a higher level of IL-8 found in the nasopharynx of L rhamnosus treated children.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that spray treatment with S sanguinis may be effective against SOM. The mechanism for the effect remains to be investigated.
Skovbjerg
S
S
Department of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10A, SE-413 46 Gothenburg, Sweden. susann.skovbjerg@vgregion.se
Roos
K
K
Holm
S E
SE
Grahn Håkansson
E
E
Nowrouzian
F
F
Ivarsson
M
M
Adlerberth
I
I
Wold
A E
AE
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D052201:Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018836:Inflammation Mediators