title: Biofilm's Role in Chronic Cholesteatomatous Otitis Media: A Pilot Study.
abstract: Cholesteatoma is a destructive lesion involving the temporal bone, which may induce severe complications due to its expansion and erosion of adjacent structures. Bacterial biofilm plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many otolaryngologic inflammatory/infectious chronic diseases. In this pilot study, we investigated, by means of cultural examination and with scanning electron microscope, the presence of bacterial biofilm in a series of samples from the epitympanic and mastoid region in patients affected by cholesteatoma and from the promontory region in patients with healthy mucosa who were undergoing to stapes surgery. The preliminary data support the association between biofilm and cholesteatoma (81.3% of the cases) and allow us to hypothesize that keratinized matrix of cholesteatoma may represent the ideal substrate for biofilm colonization and survival; this finding is consistent with the clinical course of aural cholesteatoma, characterized by recurrent exacerbations and recalcitrant course.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy lea.calo@rm.unicatt.it.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calò
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giuliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sergi
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lucidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Duino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.affiliation: Institute of Odontostomatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bassotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanguinetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart School of Medicine and Surgery, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paludetti
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000382:microbiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000382:microbiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: biofilm; cholesteatoma; chronic otitis media; pseudomonas aeruginosa