Abstract
Objective: Evaluate biofilm formation in the middle ear and mastoid and correlate the clinical data with the histopathologic findings in human temporal bones (TB) from patients with Streptococcus pneumonia positive chronic otitis media (COM).
Method: Thirty-seven TB from 20 cases with COM were selected based on positive blood cultures for Streptococcus pneumonia. The presence, amount, and localization of biofilm, and fluid, type of inflammatory cells, labyrinthitis, use of antibiotics, and coinfection of H influenza were noted. Data were compared between the groups with/without biofilm.
Results: Biofilms were observed in 22 (59%) of the 37 TB with COM. The most common anatomic localization of biofilm was facial recess, the least common was the Eustachian tube. When comparing biofilm positive and negative groups there was statistical significance in the correlation regarding type of inflammatory cells (P .05).
Conclusion: There is higher incidence of biofilm in chronic otitis media with pneumococcal infection. Because biofilms can be found more commonly in obscure areas such as facial recess and sinus tympany and less localized in well aerated areas such as the Eustachian tube, radical cleaning of those areas and optimum aeration seem essential to avoid recurrence of infection.
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