Correlation between Presence of Viable Bacteria and Presence of Endotoxin in Middle-Ear Effusions |
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| Authors: | Jeffrey R. Dingman Mark G. Rayner Suman Mishra Yingze Zhang Miles D. Ehrlich J. Christopher Post Garth D. Ehrlich |
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| Affiliation: | Center for Genomic Sciences1. and Department of Otolaryngology,4. Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212, and Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh,2. and Department of Otolaryngology, Eye and Ear Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,3. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213 |
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| Abstract: | The presence of endotoxin (detected by the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay) was compared to the presence of viable Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis (detected by PCR) in 106 middle-ear effusions from pediatric patients with chronic otitis media. Endotoxin was found in 81 of the 106 specimens. Of these 81 specimens, 66 (81.5%) also tested positive for one or both of the gram-negative bacteria H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis. The data suggest that viable gram-negative bacteria, detectable by PCR but often undetectable by culture, may be the source of endotoxin in middle-ear effusions. |
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