Effect of climate on the bacteriology of chronic suppurative otitis media.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluated the correlation between the microbial content of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and regional climatic parameters.

METHODS

We assessed the interrelations between monthly mean records of temperature, maximum temperature, atmospheric pressure, and humidity and the aerobic microbial flora in CSOM.

RESULTS

Forty-three bacteria of Enterobacteriaceae, 67 staphylococcal spp, 51 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 9 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 1 alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus, 1 Enterococcus sp, and 2 Edwardsiella tarda strains were recovered from 173 patients with CSOM. There was a good relationship between enteric bacteria and monthly mean temperature (r = 0.501) and significant colonization rates due to increasing monthly mean temperature (p = .040) and monthly mean maximum temperature values (p = .048).

CONCLUSIONS

When the weather warmed, the frequency of isolation of enteric bacteria increased significantly. Temperature changes may affect the enteric bacterial colonization of CSOM.