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Otogenic intracranial infections in adults
Author(s) -
Barry Béatrix,
Delattre Jérome,
Vié François,
Bedos JeanPierre,
Géhanno Pierre
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
the laryngoscope
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1531-4995
pISSN - 0023-852X
DOI - 10.1097/00005537-199903000-00026
Subject(s) - medicine , streptococcus pneumoniae , meningitis , otitis , antimicrobial , cerebrospinal fluid , cholesteatoma , cerebrospinal fluid leak , surgery , microbiology and biotechnology , antibiotics , biology
Objective : To assess the type and bacteriology of otologic diseases associated with bacterial meningitis in adults. Method : Retrospective review of 79 patients over an 18‐year period. Results : Acute otitis media was diagnosed in 32 patients, chronic otitis in 29 (16 with cholesteatoma), and cerebrospinal fluid leak in 18. Streptococcus pneumoniae was a common cause of meningitis‐complicating acute otitis media (69%) or cerebrospinal fluid leak (50%), whereas other bacteria or negative cultures were found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with chronic otitis. Surgery was performed promptly in 26 patients; four patients died. Conclusions : Early diagnosis of otogenic bacterial meningitis is essential to allow appropriate antimicrobial treatment. Antimicrobials active on gram negative bacilli and anaerobes should be used in patients with chronic otitis. An emergency surgical procedure is required in patients whose neurologic or infectious status fails to improve under antimicrobial treatment.