title: [Bacteriologic investigation of the Eustachian tube and the implications of perioperative antibiotics before balloon dilation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Balloon Eustachian Tuboplasty (BET) is a new minimally invasive treatment for chronic Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Initially, perioperative prophylactic antibiotic therapy with ciprofloxacin 2 × 500 mg p.o. for 5 days was administered. This study aimed to characterize the bacterial flora in the ET, nose, and pharynx in patients with chronic obstructive ETD. Additionally, we investigated the necessity of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in BET patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined 40 patients undergoing BET: 20 patients with and 20 patients without perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. All patients were followed-up for clinical signs and symptoms of local infection for at least 2 weeks after surgery. Following BET, the tips of 35 balloon catheters, as well as swabs from the nose and pharynx were sent for microbiologic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of these 40 patients had postoperative signs of infection. Of the swabs of the balloon catheters, 46% were sterile and 23% showed standard flora. The remaining 31% of swaps revealed specific bacteria. However, none of the nasal or nasopharyngeal swaps were sterile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the lack of signs of postoperative infection in either investigated group, the authors no longer favor use of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing BET. The relevance of biofilms and pathogen colonization to ET function has recently been intensively discussed, and should be further investigated in future studies.
authors: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Klinikum Bielefeld, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Universität Münster, Teutoburger Straße 50, 33604, Bielefeld, Deutschland, stefanie.schroeder@klinikumbielefeld.de.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Schröder
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Abdel-Aziz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Lehmann
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Ebmeyer
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Sudhoff
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005064:Eustachian Tube / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin