The Aetiology of Acute Middle Ear Infection

Abstract

Five hundred and sixty-three specimens taken by the puncture-aspiration technique from patients suffering from acute middle ear infections during two periods 1956–1957 and 1962–1963 were cultured for the detection of micro-organisms. Virological techniques were employed also in the first period. The investigations reveal that Diplococcus pneumoniae, H. in-fluenzae and Strept. pyogenes are still the most common causative organisms in acute middle ear infection and that Staph. aureus is of lesser importance than has been claimed. Acute middle ear infection is almost always a monomicrobic infection. PPL organisms and virus were not found with the techniques employed.