A detailed study of 237 patients with acute otitis media is presented. Samples for bacteriological examination were taken from the nose in all cases and from the ear in case of myringotomy or spontaneous rupture. Despite penicillin treatment for 10 days, H. influenzae was reisolated nearly as often asinitially, even from patients with good clinical recovery.

A study of the bacteriology is presented with special reference to the possibility of obtaining reliable bacteriologic diagnosis from nose samples only. Good correlation exists between ear samples and nose samples taken with a simple technic described in the article. There are no clear therapeutic differences between spontaneus rupture, myringotomy and no myringotomy. H. influenzae and pneumococci are the major pathogens in acute otitis media. H. influenzae is found in the same frequency in all ages.

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