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Bacteriology of the adult middle meatus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

J. M. Klossek ,
L. Dubreuil ,
H. Richet ,
B. Richet ,
A. Sedallian  and
P. Beutter
J. M. Klossek*
Affiliation:
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, CHU Poitiers, CHU, Tours, France
L. Dubreuil
Affiliation:
The Faculty of Pharmacy, Lille, CHU, Tours, France
H. Richet
Affiliation:
The Department of Microbiology, University Hospital CHRU Hotel-Dieu, Nantes, CHU, Tours, France.
B. Richet
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hospital AnnecyCHU, Tours, France
A. Sedallian
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hospital AnnecyCHU, Tours, France
P. Beutter
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital, CHU, Tours, France.
*
Address for correspondence: Professor J. M. Klossek, Service ORL et Chirurgie cervico-faciale, Hôpital Jean Bernard, CHU Poitiers, BP 577, 86021 Poitiers Cedex, France. Fax: (33) 49443848
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Abstract

The aim of this work was to assess the commensal flora in the adult middle meatus. Thus, 139 samples were taken from subjects of both sexes, over 16 years of age, seen in the community or hospitalized for less than 72 hours for non-rhinological conditions. They had had no nasal or sinus conditions in the previous three months. One hundred and thirteen samples contained at least one aerobic or anaerobic bacterium. Fifty-nine samples yielded a single organism in culture. A maximum of five organisms were isolated from a given patient. These results show that the adult middle meatus contains a mixed commensal flora and should prove useful in interpreting endonasal swab cultures during acute and chronic sinus infection.

Keywords

Middle meatus, microbiology

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 110 , Issue 9 , September 1996 , pp. 847 - 849
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1996

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