MICROBIOLOGY OF CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA WITH EFFUSION AMONG AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL CHILDREN: ROLE OF CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS

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Abstract
Serum, eye secretions, post‐nasal swabs, external ear swabs and middle ear effusions (MEE) were collected from 131 Australian Aboriginal children with chronic otitis media with effusion (COME). The children were all resident in a trachoma endemic region. Chlamydia trachomatis was recovered from the MEE of 2 children. Probable bacterial pathogens were isolated from 34 (12·7%) ears. The remainder were sterile (52·4%) or contained normal skin flora (34·9%). Serum and secretions were examined by the micro‐immunofluorescent technique for the presence, titre and serotype of anti‐chlamydial antibody. Antibody, predominantly of the C serotype, was found in a high percentage of sera (80%) and secretions (approximately 50%). This serotype is associated with ocular trachoma. It is concluded that C. trachomatis is associated with COME among some Aboriginal children in this trachoma endemic area.