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Noninvasive in vivo optical detection of biofilm in the human middle ear
Cac T Nguyen1, Woonggyu Jung, Jeehyun Kim
1Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Insights
Optical coherent ranging noninvasively detects middle ear biofilms in chronic otitis media (OM). This breakthrough aids early detection and monitoring of biofilm-related infections, improving treatment strategies for this common childhood illness.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Biomedical Optics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Otitis media (OM) is a common middle-ear infection in children, potentially leading to chronic issues and hearing loss.
- Chronic OM is increasingly linked to bacterial biofilms, which are difficult to detect with standard otoscopes.
- Current diagnostic methods for middle ear biofilms are limited, hindering effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate optical coherent ranging as a noninvasive method for detecting and quantifying middle ear biofilms.
- To assess the presence and microstructure of biofilms in adults with chronic OM.
- To establish a foundation for early detection and monitoring of biofilm-related chronic OM.
Main Methods:
- Utilized optical coherent ranging techniques for noninvasive assessment of the middle ear.
- Collected over 18,537 optical ranging scans and 742 images from 13 adult patients with chronic OM and 7 healthy controls.
- Employed clinical findings as the gold standard for comparison.
Main Results:
- All middle ears diagnosed with chronic OM showed evidence of bacterial biofilms.
- Normal middle ears did not exhibit any signs of biofilms.
- Demonstrated the capability of optical coherent ranging to detect and characterize biofilm microstructure.
Conclusions:
- Optical coherent ranging is a promising noninvasive tool for identifying middle ear biofilms in chronic OM.
- This technique can provide quantifiable data for early detection and longitudinal monitoring of treatment response.
- Further understanding of biofilm dynamics in OM can lead to improved therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
Otitis media (OM), a middle-ear infection, is the most common childhood illness treated by pediatricians. If inadequately treated, OM can result in long-term chronic problems persisting into adulthood. Children with chronic OM or recurrent OM often have conductive hearing loss and communication difficulties and require surgical treatment. Tympanostomy tube insertion, the placement of a small drainage tube in the tympanic membrane (TM), is the most common surgical procedure performed in children under general anesthesia. Recent clinical studies have shown evidence of a direct correspondence between chronic OM and the presence of a bacterial biofilm within the middle ear. Biofilms are typically very thin and cannot be recognized using a regular otoscope. Here we report the use of optical coherent ranging techniques to noninvasively assess the middle ear to detect and quantify biofilm microstructure. This study involves adults with chronic OM, which is generally accepted as a biofilm-related disease. Based on more than 18,537 optical ranging scans and 742 images from 13 clinically infected patients and 7 normal controls using clinical findings as the gold standard, all middle ears with chronic OM showed evidence of biofilms, and all normal ears did not. Information on the presence of a biofilm, along with its structure and response to antibiotic treatment, will not only provide a better fundamental understanding of biofilm formation, growth, and eradication in the middle ear, but also may provide much-needed quantifiable data to enable early detection and quantitative longitudinal treatment monitoring of middle-ear biofilms responsible for chronic OM.
