Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 10, 2026

Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
[Bacterial implication in otitis media with effusion in the childhood]
Isabel de Miguel Martínez1, Angel Ramos Macías, Elisabeth Masgoret Palau
1Servicio de Microbiología, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular-Maternoinfantil de Gran Canaria, Universidad de Las Palmas, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, España. imigmar@gobiernodecanarias.org
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.
Related Concept Videos
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction
Bacterial Meningitis
Bacterial Meningitis II: Pathophysiology
Tonsillitis I: Introduction
Etiology
Three primary contributing factors have been identified.
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA