Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2009 Feb;52(2):124-128. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2009.52.2.124.

Formation of Biofilm in Patients with Chronic Otitis Media and Cholesteatoma

• Park YH
• Kim EH
• Seo ST
• Lee SH
• Kim JM
• Koo BS
• Kim YM
• Rha KS

• KMID: 2276984
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2009.52.2.124

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
In many chronic infections, bacteria are present as a form of biofilms. Recently, bacterial biofilm has been implicated in persistent or recurrent chronic otolaryngologic infections, because they are highly resistant to treatment with antimicrobial agents and capable of shedding individual bacteria to the surrounding tissues. In this study, we aimed to evaluate biofilm in chronic middle ear infections.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
A total of 85 cases with chronic middle ear infections were included in this study. Histomorphologic studies for middle ear granulations and cholesteatomas were performed using light and electron microscopy.
RESULTS
In middle ear granulations, about 33% of the cases showed the evidence of bacterial biofilm. In comparison, about 64% of the cases in cholesteatoma tissues have the evidences of bacterial biofilm.
CONCLUSION
Biofilms are associated with chronic middle ear infection and they may play a role in the pathogenesis of refractory or persistent chronic middle ear infections.

Keyword

Biofilm; Middle ear; Infection

MeSH Terms

Anti-Infective Agents
Bacteria
Biofilms
Cholesteatoma
Ear, Middle
Humans
Light
Microscopy, Electron
Otitis
Otitis Media
Anti-Infective Agents