[Bacterial flora in chronic inner ear infections in adults]

The aim of the study was to analyse microbiologically middle ear exudate obtained from 56 patients, aged 17 to 83 years, treated for chronic otitis media. Aerobic bacteria only were found 49 patients (87,5%). Mixed aerobic and anaerobic isolates were recovered from 7 patients (12,5%). The most common bacteria isolated from the middle ear exudate, in descending order frequency, were Staphylococcus aureus (45%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (34%), Proteus mirabilis (16%) and Prevotella melaninogenica (9%). Other organisms were isolated less frequently. In 34 patients only one isolate was recovered, in 22 patients the isolated bacteria coexisted with other microorganisms.