Bacteriological studies of otitis externa 1951, 1952, and 1953

Hardy, Albert V.; Mitchell, Roland B.; Schreiber, Minnie; Hoffert, W. R.; Yawn, B S Elizabeth; Young, BD

doi:10.1288/00005537-195412000-00003

Cited by 11 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…A critical factor in the pathogenesis of the disease appears to be the ratio of gram-positive to gram-negative bacteria in the ear canal. The normal flora is predominantly gram-positive, mainly staphylococci and corynebacteria; that in otitis externa is predominantly gram-negative mainly Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Hardy et al 1954;Wright & Alexander, 1974). Hydration of the skin of the ear canal probably predisposes to this change (Wright & Dineen, 1972;Hojyo-Tomaka, Marples & Kligman, 1973).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute otitis externa in divers working in the North Sea: a microbiological survey of seven saturation dives

Alcock

1977

J. Hyg.

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SUJMMARYSaturation diving is an important and widely used technique in the Offshore Oil Industry. During 1974-5 two saturation dives in the North Sea were terminated because of outbreaks of incapacitating otitis externa, and others were disrupted. P8eudomona8 aeruginosa was consistently isolated from the ears of affected divers.Because complex work schedules were threatened seven subsequent dives were subjected to microbiological monitoring and control. Colonization of the ear canal with P. aeruginosa or with other gram-negative bacilli occurred in 39 (67 %) of the 58 divers studied, usually within 7 days of starting the dive. Data obtained by serotyping the isolations ofP. aeruginosa suggested that a single infected diver may be the source of organisms which rapidly spread to his colleagues and throughout the living chambers, that the living chambers may constitute a reservoir of infection during and between dives, and that certain serotypes of P. aeruginosa are more likely than others to colonize the ear canal in the conditions of a saturation dive. The control measures used during the dives were only partially effective, but none of the divers suffered severe pain and all the dives were an operational success.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%