infective organisms

Last reviewed 01/2018

 

  • bacterial causes include:
    • Strep pneumonia - 30%
    • H. influenzae - 20%
    • Moraxella catarrhalis - 20%
    • Group A Strep and Staph aureus - 5%
  • viral causes (less than 10%) (1):
    • polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has shown detectable virus in the middle ear space
    • respiratory viral infection predisposes to bacterial infection (1)
    • coinfection with bacteria is present in more than 40 percent viral-induced acute otitis media (2)
    • associated viruses include (1,2):
      • RSV
      • parainfluenzae
      • influenza virus
      • rhinovirus
      • enterovirus
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis are rare causes

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