Etiological and demographic characteristics between unilateral and bilateral otitis media in Costa Rican children

Abstract

Data from Latin America describing the potential differences among children with unilateral or bilateral otitis media are scarce and needed in order to implement appropriate prevention actions and specific antimicrobial recommendations. The present study analyzed the demographic and microbiologic characteristics of 1,427 Costa Rican children with unilateral and bilateral otitis media in whom a tympanocentesis was performed between 1992 and 2006 (median age: 23 months; range two to 150 months). There were no significant differences in the demographics, microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility among middle ear fluid isolates obtained from both populations. The only significant finding was observed in children with Moraxella catarrhalis otitis media that was observed more frequently than other bacterial pathogen in the middle ear fluid of children with unilateral acute otitis media that were < 24 months of age and during the rainy season.

Keywords

Unilateral otitis media - bilateral otitis media - M. catarrhalis