Reliability of conventional ear swabs in tubotympanic CSOM

Abstract

Conventional external ear swab cultures were compared with cultures obtained from the middle ear, in 25 cases of tubotympanic type (‘safe’), chronic suppurative otitis media. These cultures were identical in 22 of the 25 cases.Anaerobic organisms were isolated in only one case. Mixed infections of both gram-positive and gramnegative organisms were seen in nine cases (36 per cent).Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest single agent isolated (16 cases). Multidrug resistance was seen in 12 of these isolates.

Use of pre-reduced swabs in bacteriology of chronic suppurative otitis media

“…Further, the middle ear discharge usually will be inadequate to be aspirated into a syringe. Raju et al (1990) have reported identical results with conventional ear swab cultures and those from middle ear aspirates. Their anaerobic isolation rate was only four per cent by both methods.…”

“…A nichrome wire loop has been used (Raju et al, 1990), but it has the following disadvantages namely (a) the specimens collected should be immediately inoculated into the culture medium, (b) it is not suitable for transportation as it dries up and (c) the anaerobes die on contact with atmospheric air.…”

Kerstersia gyiorum: An Unusual Pathogen Causing Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

“…Kronik süpüratif otitis media olgularında, intraoperatif olarak alınan örneklerde kültür pozitiflik oranları kulak akıntısı kültürlerine oranla daha yüksek olup, akıntı kültürlerinin bazı etkenleri saptamada yetersiz kalabildiği bildirilmiştir (5). Bununla birlikte, özellikle opere olmayacak hastalarda, uygun antibiyotik tedavisinin belirlenebilmesi amacıyla akıntı kültürleri uzun yıllardır kullanılmakta; bu kültürlerin duyarlılıklarının orta kulak aspirasyonuyla elde edilen örneklerden yapılan kültürlere yakın olduğunu belirten yayınlar bulunmaktadır (6). Buna göre, klinik belirtileri uygun olan hastaların rutin olarak değerlendirilmekte olan kulak akıntısı kültürlerinde, normal florada bulunması beklenmeyen bir köken, baskın olarak ürediğinde etken olarak dikkate alınmalıdır.…”

Swab and aspiration specimen collection methods and antibiogram in chronic suppurative otitis media at Jos University Teaching Hospital: Which is superior?

“…[1][2][3] Appropriate sampling methods for obtaining specific bacteria have generated a lot of controversy and made some people adopt other techniques. [4] The simplest and cheapest method available in our environment is the cheaper traditional swab method which has proven usefulness in other developing nations, [5] but has largely been condemned on the basis that it introduces contaminant. This study aims to investigate the assertion.…”