Aerobic and Anaerobic Bacteria in the Middle ear and ear Canal in Acute Otitis Media

Middle ear fluid (MEF) aspirates and respective ear canal (EC) swabs of 59 patients (71 ears) with acute otitis media were cultured with standard aerobic and anaerobic bacteriological methods. Bacterial growth was found in 56 (79 %) MEF and 5 (63 %) EC samples. The most frequent bacteria isolated from MEF were Streptococcus pneumoniae (37) and Haemophilus influenzae (10). Anaerobic bacteria grew in 11 EC samples but in only one MEF aspirate, being present also in the corresponding EC sample. This suggests that anaerobic bacteria play no significant role in acute otitis media. Staphylococci, diphtheroids and α-hemoly tic streptococci in MEF seem to be derived from the EC.