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Has cerumen a protective role in recurrent external otitis?
Yavuz Selim Pata1, Candan Ozturk, Yucel Akbas
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Mersin, Turkey. yavuzpata@hotmail.com
American Journal of Otolaryngology
|July 29, 2003
Summary
Cerumen from patients with recurrent otitis externa showed similar bactericidal activity compared to healthy individuals. While some bacterial counts differed, the overall antimicrobial properties were not significantly reduced in recurrent otitis externa cases.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Recurrent otitis externa involves frequent ear infections.
- The role of cerumen's bactericidal activity in this condition is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bactericidal activity of earwax (cerumen) in patients experiencing recurrent otitis externa.
- To compare this activity against common ear microorganisms with cerumen from healthy individuals.
Main Methods:
- Collected cerumen samples from two groups: patients with recurrent otitis externa (n=20) and healthy individuals (n=30).
- Assessed the bactericidal activity of cerumen against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in Staphylococcus epidermidis was observed in both groups.
- A significant difference in Escherichia coli count was noted between groups; it decreased in the recurrent otitis externa group but increased in the healthy group.
- No significant overall reduction in bactericidal activity was found in cerumen from patients with recurrent otitis externa.
Conclusions:
- Cerumen from patients with recurrent otitis externa does not exhibit significantly less bactericidal activity than that from a healthy population.
- The findings do not support the hypothesis that reduced cerumen antimicrobial properties contribute to recurrent otitis externa.