Effects of septoplasty on the nasal flora.

BACKGROUND

Disruption in the balance of the nasal flora influences infectious diseases of the nose. We characterized the changes in nasal flora of the middle meatus of patients with a symptomatic deviated nasal septum before and after septoplasty.

METHODS

The study cohort included 33 patients with symptomatic deviated nasal septum who underwent septoplasty from 1998 to 2001. Cultures from the middle meatus were taken preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively.

RESULTS

Fifty-two percent of the preoperative cultures and 76% of the postoperative cultures were positive. The preoperatively cultured bacteria were similar to those usually cultured from the nose of a healthy individual-mainly Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium. The postoperative cultures included bacteria not considered as being nasal flora and infrequently cultured from the nose: Pseudomonas, Haemophilus influenza, and Staphylococcus coagulase negative.

CONCLUSION

Symptomatic septal deviation does not influence nasalflora. The bacterial changes without clinical complaints that we found postseptoplasty might call for a more in-depth workup.