Bacteriological investigation of secretory otitis media in children with cleft palate

Altogether 92 middle ear effusion samples from 89 children with cleft (lip) palate and secretory otitis media aged from two months to 15 years were cultured and analyzed bacteriologically. Known middle ear pathogens were isolated from 49 (53%), these accounted for 68% of all positive cultures. The frequency of occurrence of middle ear pathogens was significantly higher in the age group younger than 36 months. The most common bacteria found were S. pneumoniae, B. catarrhalis and H. influenzae. The only anaerobe was a strain of B. fragilis. We believe that by defining culture methods, more pathogens can be isolated from the middle ear of cleft children than has previously been reported. Pathogenic bacteria seem to be found with a higher frequency in children with cleft palate, when compared to normal children.