Bacteriological Evaluation of Spontaneous Otorrhea in Children

Since October 2015, children with spontaneous perforation of the tympanic membrane (SPTM) are prospectively enrolled by 41 pediatricians who are part of a research and teaching network (ACTIV, Association Clinique et Thérapeutique Infantile du Val de Marne [Clinical and Therapeutic Association of Val de Marne]) throughout France. For some patients, otorrhea is the first manifestation of AOM; for others, otorrhea occurred after AOM treatment failure or recurrence. Failure (non-responsive AOM) is defined as otorrhea appearing despite at least 48 hr of antibiotics or recurring less than 4 days after the end of antibiotic treatment. Recurrence is defined by the appearance of otorrhea 4 to 30 days after the end of antibiotic treatment for AOM.

Middle ear fluid (MEF) is obtained by sampling spontaneous discharge according to clinical practice guidelines. MEF specimens are obtained with cotton-tipped wire swabs, immediately placed in transport medium (Copan Venturi Transystem®, Brescia, Italy), and transported within 48 hr to one of the two centralized microbiology laboratories (Robert Debré Hospital or National Centre for Pneumococci at European Georges Pompidou Hospital, Paris, France).