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Anaerobic mastoiditis: A report of two cases with complications
Author(s) -
Moloy Peter J.
Publication year - 1982
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 - 10.1288/00005537-198211000-00018
Subject(s) - mastoiditis , medicine , anaerobic bacteria , anaerobic exercise , fusobacterium necrophorum , fusobacterium , surgery , otitis , asymptomatic , chronic suppurative otitis media , anaerobic infection , eustachian tube , middle ear , bacteria , biology , bacteroides , physiology , genetics
Aerobic bacteria are responsible for most cases of suppurative otitis media/mastoiditis (OM/M). As many as 20–30% of middle ear aspirates in acute otitis media, however, are reported to be sterile on aerobic culture. Some of these cases may be due to anaerobic bacteria. Two cases of OM/M due to anaerobic bacteria are reported. The first patient had no antecedent ear disease and developed a large Bezold abscess caused by Fusobacterium varium . The second patient had attic retraction pouches bilaterally and a history of otorrhea. This patient developed labyrinthitis and meningitis due to B. fragilis . The clinical progression of disease in both cases indicates that anaerobic OM/M can follow a deceptively asymptomatic course. By contrast, complications of OM/M occur abruptly and extend rapidly in a manner typical of acute aerobic disease. Both cases required surgery for cure.