[Bacterial implication in otitis media with effusion in the childhood].

OBJECTIVE: Our main aim is to analyze the bacterial involvement in otitis media with effusion (OME) and its effect on antimicrobial therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: A prospective study is carried out on a total of 70 children from 1 to 12 years of age distributed in 2 groups: the first is a control group of 30 healthy children and the second group comprises 40 children with OME. The surgical samples obtained from the middle ear were processed for bacterial analysis.

RESULTS: In 72.5 % of OMEs, the bacterial cultures were positive. The micro-organisms isolated were: Alloiococcus otitidis (48.27 %), followed by Haemophilus influenzae not serotype B (17.24 %), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 2), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 1).

CONCLUSIONS: In the healthy ear, the ear cavity is sterile. In most OMEs, bacteria such as Alloiococcus otitidis are identified. Knowing which bacterium is involved is essential for the prognosis and treatment of otitis media with effusion, as the high frequency of its presentation may be linked to the aetiology and/or course of the process in many patients.