title: Factors Associated With Infectious Laryngitis: A Retrospective Review of 15 Cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the culturable microbes associated with infectious laryngitis and outline effective treatment strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective chart review of adult patients with persistent dysphonia plus evidence of laryngeal inflammation who underwent biopsy for culture at a tertiary care medical center. Demographic factors, symptoms as reported on validated patient assessment tools, past medical history, social history, culture results, and treatment duration and response were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen patients with infectious laryngitis were included in this study. Culture results demonstrated Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and "normal respiratory flora." In most patients, multiple courses of prolonged antibiotics were needed to treat MSSA or MRSA. Infections associated with other microbes resolved with a single course of antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this population, infectious laryngitis is defined as colonization with bacteria not found in the previously characterized laryngeal microbiome of benign vocal fold lesions. In suspected cases of infectious laryngitis, culture is recommended, by biopsy if needed. For MSSA- and MRSA-associated laryngitis, an extended course of antibiotics may be necessary for symptom improvement and resolution of laryngeal inflammation. However, the optimal treatment regimen has yet to be defined and will require larger, prospective studies.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Carissa M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Marie E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Jetté
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Clary
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; bacteria; chronic laryngitis; infectious laryngitis; inflammation; laryngitis