title: Epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of culture-proven acute otitis media in Taiwanese children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common diseases in children. Here, we describe the epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of AOM in Taiwanese children over a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively enrolled pediatric patients with culture-proven AOM who were treated at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei between 1999-2008. The data include demographic characteristics, clinical history, and microbiological characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six hundred and fourteen patients were included. The male:female ratio was 1.4 (p<0.001). Greater than three-fourths of the patients (476 [77.5%]) were < 5 years of age, and most patients were 1-2 years of age. The most common isolated pathogen was Streptococcus pneumoniae (419 patients [68.2%]), followed by nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi; 118 patients [19.2%]). The distributions of age, gender, use of tympanocentesis, history of previous AOM, and use of antibiotic between patients infected with the two pathogens were not significantly different. However, the number of patients with AOM caused by S. pneumoniae, but not NTHi, decreased during the study period (p=0.004). Three hundred and eighty-seven children (63.0%) with AOM developed spontaneous otorrhea. Compared with patients who underwent tympanocentesis, those with spontaneous otorrhea were younger (27.0±16.4 vs. 31.1±15.2 months of age, p=0.004), more likely to have a previous history of AOM (p=0.019), and more likely to receive more antibiotics (p=0.012). The third most common pathogen was S. pyogenes (25 patients [4.1%]). S. pyogenes occurred more often in children > 5 years of age and was associated with spontaneous otorrhea (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. pneumoniae and NTHi are common causes of culture-confirmed AOM in Taiwanese children. Although S. pyogenes is not as common, it usually causes AOM in children > 5 years of age and is associated with spontaneous otorrhea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nan-Chang
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Hsin-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chyong-Hsin
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Fu-Yuan
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuo-Sheng
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hsin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents