Otitis Media in Infancy
In these two studies a total of 93 infants with otitis media had the etiologic agent determined by tympanocentesis. Streptococcus pneumoniae was found in 25, Haemophilus influenzae in 18, Staphylococcus epidermis in 26, Staphylococcus aureus in 10, Gram-negative enterics (Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Proteus) in 14. Most staphylococci were found in cultures in which other pathogens were also grown (usually pneumococcus or H influenzae). Symptoms of otitis were not different from those of older age groups (irritability, fever, rhinitis, anorexia, cough, vomiting, diarrhea). There was no correlation with sex of baby or maternal complications of labor. Patients who were under 6 weeks of age or were inpatients (eg, in intensive care nursery) had a greater risk of enteric rod etiology (12/55 or 22%) than older or outpatients.
