UNASSIGNED: beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, especially extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers have strong clinical relevance and have been implicated in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) treatment failures. This study aimed to determine the frequency, antibiogram, and molecular characteristics of ESBL-producing gram-negative bacterial (GNB) pathogens isolated from patients with CSOM.
UNASSIGNED: three hundred (300) ear swab samples collected from patients with active CSOM were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiogram of pathogens was determined by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique. Phenotypic detection and molecular characterization of ESBL-producing GNB pathogens were performed by double disk synergy test (DDST) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
UNASSIGNED: Escherichia coli and P. aeruginosa were more prevalent among CSOM patients with a duration of discharge >2 weeks. The frequency of ESBL producers among the GNB pathogens was 18.3%. Isolates were generally multidrug-resistant but very susceptible (100% - 70.4%) to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and amikacin. Multiple antibiotic resistance values of the isolates ranged from 0.7-0.8. Polymerase chain reaction showed that blaSHV (47.6%) was the most predominant ESBL genotype. This was followed by blaTEM (25.2%) and blaCTX-M (10.7%) as the least predominant ESBL gene. Concomitant expression of ESBL gene was observed in 13.6% of the isolates.
UNASSIGNED: this study reported the occurrence and spread of β-lactamase-producing bacteria in patients with CSOM infections. It is therefore very crucial to screen for antibiotic-resistant pathogens at early stages of CSOM infections, for proper antimicrobial therapy and to curb the increasing spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have substantially improved survival in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). We report the first association between long-term imatinib use and temporal bone osteonecrosis, highlighting the importance of prompt ENT evaluation of such patients with new otological symptoms.

The bacteriological and antimicrobial sensitivity profile of chronic otitis media (COM) varies from region to region and from time to time and may vary among different age group as well. It was against this backdrop of the changing bacteriological profile and sensitivity pattern together with the paucity of categorically separated data of pediatric and adult population, that the present study was undertaken. A total of 193 patients of clinical diagnosis of cholesteatomatous COM with ear discharge and positive culture results were included in the study. Pus sample was collected under aseptic conditions and cultured on solid media and broth. Isolates were identified via standard biochemical tests and sensitivity patterns analysed. Chi square (χ2) test was used to analyse the significance. Pseudomonas was the most common isolate in both the pediatric (37.80%) and adult (51.46%) population. Methicillin sensitive staph aureus (MSSA) was found exclusively in pediatric population (p = 0.003).Piperacillin-Tazobactam combination was the single most effective drug regimen overall. 75% of pseudomonas isolates in pediatric and 87.5% in adults were sensitive to this regimen in vitro. Amikacin was the next most effective drug with 56.69% sensitivity in pediatric and 64.08% sensitivity in adult population. The present study finds piperacillin-tazobactam as the most effective therapy and pseudomonas as the most common isolate in the study population.In order to address the varying and changing bacteriological and sensitivity profile of chronic otitis media occurring among different geographical regions and also within a region over time, the authors recommend its periodic evaluation.

UNASSIGNED: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) may result in a serious impairment of the quality of life (QoL). The most relevant characteristics of CSOM are well represented in the \"Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test 15\" questionnaire (COMOT-15). The aim of the study was to translate and adapt the COMOT-15 questionnaire into Italian.
UNASSIGNED: This is a prospective study conducted on 52 Caucasian Italian-speaking patients with CSOM and 52 controls. The linguistic adaptation of the COMOT-15 consisted of the translation of the English version into Italian and reliability assessment of the translation. Psychometric measurements included internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
UNASSIGNED: Cronbach\'s α was 0.95. The test-retest reliability showed a strong positive correlation for total score and all subscales. Age and gender had no influence on the scores. The correlation between the COMOT-15 and the pure tone average showed a significant association for the scale \"Hearing Function\".
UNASSIGNED: The Italian COMOT-15 questionnaire provides good internal consistency and is suitable for QoL evaluation in Italian-speaking patients suffering from CSOM. In addition, it is able to evaluate the subjective symptoms perceived by patients.
Adattamento culturale e validazione in italiano del questionario COMOT-15 nella valutazione degli outcomes del trattamento dell’otite media cronica.
UNASSIGNED: L’otite media cronica suppurativa (OMCS) può determinare una grave compromissione della qualità della vita (QoL) dei pazienti. Gli aspetti clinici più rilevanti dell’OMCS sono rappresentati nel questionario “Chronic Otitis Media Outcome Test 15” (COMOT-15). Scopo dello studio è tradurre e adattare alla lingua italiana il questionario COMOT-15.
UNASSIGNED: Abbiamo effettuato uno studio prospettico di validazione arruolando 52 pazienti con diagnosi di OMCS e 52 controlli. Il processo di adattamento linguistico del questionario è consistito nella traduzione della versione originale inglese in italiano e nella misura dell’affidabilità della stessa. Le misure psicometriche che abbiamo preso in considerazione includevano coerenza interna e affidabilità test-retest.
UNASSIGNED: Il Cronbach α era pari a 0,95. Abbiamo riscontrato una forte correlazione positiva sia per il punteggio totale che per tutte le sottoscale. Età e sesso non hanno influenzato i punteggi. L’analisi delle correlazioni tra COMOT-15 e soglia uditiva per la via aerea ha mostrato un’associazione significativa per la sottoscala “Funzione uditiva”.
UNASSIGNED: Sulla base dei nostri risultati è stato possibile dimostrare che la versione italiana del questionario COMOT-15 da noi proposta ha una buona coerenza interna ed è particolarmente adatta per la valutazione della QoL nei pazienti di lingua italiana affetti da otite media cronica suppurativa. Inoltre, esso è in grado di valutare i sintomi soggettivi percepiti dai pazienti.

UNASSIGNED: Atticoantral, alias unsafe type of CSOM affects the posterosuperior part of the middle ear cleft and is frequently coupled with complications and bony erosions. This study aimed to correlate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) temporal bone and intraoperative findings in the patients with the unsafe type of CSOM.
UNASSIGNED: This prospective study included 50 patients (28 males: 22 females; mean age 24 ± 14 years) who presented with clinically suspected unsafe CSOM. All patients underwent HRCT of the temporal bone and subsequent surgical procedure. The intraoperative and histopathological findings were compared with HRCT findings. Descriptive statistics, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value for HRCT were calculated. Student\'s t-test and Chi-square test were performed.
UNASSIGNED: Out of 50 patients, left, right, and bilateral ear involvement were seen in 42% (21/50), 38% (19/50), and 20% (10/50) patients, respectively. Ear discharge was the most common symptom (100%) followed by earache (66%), vertigo (16%), and tinnitus (14%), respectively. Cholesteatoma was reported in 82% (49/60) of ears on HRCT while histopathological and intraoperative evaluation confirmed the diagnosis in 40 out of 49 ears. In 18% (11/60) ears, the cholesteatoma was not diagnosed on HRCT evaluation; however, the intraoperative and histopathological assessment revealed cholesteatoma in six patients while the rest had granulation tissue. For detection of ossicular erosions, tegmen erosions, erosions of facial nerve canal, erosions of sigmoid sinus plate, and erosions of lateral/posterior semicircular canals; HRCT had high sensitivity (86.44%-100%) and specificity (93.33%-100%).
UNASSIGNED: HRCT has a superb correlation with intraoperative findings and is a valuable tool for preoperative assessment of temporal bone pathologies.

UNASSIGNED: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is mostly caused by bacterial infection of the middle ear and antibiotics are generally used empirically, which may lead to the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. The objective of the study is to assess the bacteriological profile of and evaluate the antibiotic susceptibility of strains isolated in a tertiary care hospital in Shanghai, China.
UNASSIGNED: This study included 289 individuals with clinical diagnosis of CSOM. Middle ear purulent discharge was obtained with sterile swabs and cultured for bacterial pathogens. The susceptibility of the isolated microorganisms to antibiotics was assessed by a microdilution method.
UNASSIGNED: Bacterial pathogens were found in 223 (77.2%) of the 289 cases. A total of 236 strains were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest bacteria (44.9%) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (16.9%) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (8.5%). There were 18.9% methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA) among the obtained S aureus organisms. Multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa was found in 4 patients, making up 10% of all detected P aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus showed highest susceptibility to vancomycin (100%), then gentamicin (98.1%) and rifampicin (97.2%) and was most resistant to penicillin (61.3%) and erythromycin (50%). All isolated P aeruginosa showed susceptibility to piperacillin, piperacillin/tazobactam, and meropenem. High degree of resistance in P aeruginosa was observed toward levofloxacin (42.5%), ciprofloxacin (40%), and ceftriaxone (30%).
UNASSIGNED: The high prevalence of MRSA and fluoroquinolone-resistant P aeruginosa indicated cephalosporins and fluoroquinolone as primary empirical antibiotic drugs in CSOM to be cautiously used. In order to reduce the incidence of resistant strains and promote effective usage of antibiotics, all aural discharges should be cultured to determine antibacterial susceptibility patterns before treatment.

Chronic otitis media is a common disease of the developing world with persistent ear discharge, leading to major complications. This study describes the microorganisms isolated from the middle ear and nasopharynx of children with chronically discharging ears. Middle ear and nasopharyngeal swabs from 89 children were studied, and the microorganisms isolated were assessed for biofilm-forming ability. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was common in the nasopharynx, while the middle ear showed predominantly pseudomonas and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed strong biofilm formation, whereas Escherichia coli, Proteus sp. and Providentia sp. were weak biofilm producers. S. aureus isolates were negative for biofilm formation.

The present study aimed to investigate the potential involvement of specific T-cell subpopulations in granulation tissue formation in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Fifteen patients with CSOM were enrolled in this study. Granulation tissues were obtained from the middle ear cavity. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed for histopathological observation, and different T-cell subpopulations were characterized by immunohistochemistry. No evident association was identified between granulation tissue formation and disease course. The number of cluster of differentiation 8+ (CD8+) T cells, forkhead box P3+ (FOXP3+) regulatory T (Treg) cells and OX40+ T cells were significantly higher in granulation tissues from patients with ear discharge within the last 6 months compared to those without (P<0.05). Fresh granulation tissues had more CD8+ T cells and FOXP3+ Treg cells compared to the mature granulation tissues (P<0.05). There was a differential abundance of specific T-cell subpopulations in the granulation tissues in CSOM with different disease courses or with ear discharge, suggesting that T cell-mediated cellular immunity is involved in lesion formation of CSOM.

BACKGROUND: The discharging ear is a common presentation in medical practice affecting all age groups but primarily children. This study shows the current aetiological causes of ear discharge and their antibiograms, data which would guide empirical treatment of ear infections, and also form a basis for further research.
METHODS: This was a retrospective review of laboratory records of all ear swabs submitted for culture over a two year period in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Accra, Ghana. Data was obtained on demographic characteristics of patients, clinical diagnosis, isolated organisms and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolated organisms. Data was analyzed by simple descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: A total of 351 ear swabs were received by the laboratory for processing over the two year period. Of these 277(78.9%) had microorganisms isolated. A significant number127 (47%) was obtained from children under five years. Pseudomonas spp was the commonly isolated organism 121(46%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 33(12.5%) and Proteus spp 32(12.2%). Candida was the commonest isolated fungi 9 (69.2%). Susceptibility of Pseudomonas spp to commonly used ototopics (ciprofloxacin & gentamicin) was 93% and 74% respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of the discharging ear were found in children under the age of five years. The most common bacteriologic cause of the discharging ear was Pseudomonas spp followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Candida species was the commonest fungal cause of ear discharge. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin are effective ototopic antimicrobial agents for empirical treatment of the discharging ear.