Bacteriological studies after obliterative mastoid operations

This study evaluates the post-operative bacteriology and the clinical state of postoperatively infected ears which were operated on using obliterative techniques and relates these bacteriological findings with the disease present. Out of the 85 ears with post-operative infection, the discharge was mucous in nine ears, mucopurulent in 18 ears, and seropurulent in 34 ears. Twenty-four ears were moist. Epitympanal or antral cholesteatoma was noticed in seven ears and meso- or hypotympanal cholesteatoma in 12 ears. The post-operative Valsalva-test was positive in 61 ears and negative in 24 ears. The types of bacteria did not significantly depend on the quality of the post-operative discharge, existence of post-operative cholesteatoma, or clinical function of the Eustachian tube (estimated by the Valsalva test). This study indicates that the bacteriology of the post-operatively moist or discharging ear does not significantly depend of the clinical state of the ear, nor can it be predicted on the basis of the clinical picture of the ear. A bacteriological examination of the ear seems to be the only way to control chemotherapy properly.