[Personal studies on the current spectrum of pathogenic bacteria in otitis externa and chronic otitis media]

From 1985-1987 smears (for Gram staining) and swabs (for culture and antibiogram) were done in 294 patients suffering from chronic otitis media, and in 67 cases of external otitis. Besides the comparison of these two procedures, the microbial spectrum in case of external otitis and chronic otitis media is considered and compared to the literature. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus are the most frequent pathogens. Often gram-positive rod-shaped bacilli were also found, the pathogenicity of which has been underestimated in the literature up to now. The anaerobes did not play an important role in our patients. The value of gram staining (immediate information and safer antibiotic therapy) is pointed out on the basis of the reported results.