scholarly journals Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Virus in the Middle Ear of Deceased COVID-19 Patients

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ionuț Isaia Jeican ◽  
Maria Aluaș ◽  
Mihaela Lazăr ◽  
Lucian Barbu-Tudoran ◽  
Dan Gheban ◽  
...  

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the middle ear reveals the etiopathogenesis of otitis media in COVID-19, as well as an epidemiological risk during otologic examination and surgical procedures in COVID-19 patients. The study included 8 deceased patients with COVID-19. Tissue samples from the middle ear were subjected to virology, histopathology, scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy investigation. Ethmoidal mucosa samples were processed for virology analyses. qPCR resulted positive for 75% of nasal mucosa samples and 50% of middle ear samples. Ct values showed lower viral loads in middle ear samples. A proportion of 66.6% patients with positive results in the nasal mucosa showed positive results in the middle ear, and the subtype analysis of the complete genome sequences indicated B.1.1.7 lineage for all samples. In histopathological and SEM samples, no pathological aspects were identified. TEM revealed on the background of death critical alteration of cellular morphology, suggestive structures resembling SARS-CoV-2, goblet cells and immune cells. SARS-CoV-2 can be present in the middle ear of COVID-19 patients even if there is not clinical evidence of acute otitis media. Otolaryngologists could be particularly exposed to COVID-19 infection.

1994 ◽  
Vol 110 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
P ANTONELLI ◽  
S JUHN ◽  
C LE ◽  
G GIEBINK

Author(s):  
Cecilia Rosso ◽  
Antonio Mario Bulfamante ◽  
Carlotta Pipolo ◽  
Emanuela Fuccillo ◽  
Alberto Maccari ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Cleft palate children have a higher incidence of otitis media with effusion, more frequent recurrent acute otitis media episodes, and worse conductive hearing losses than non-cleft children. Nevertheless, data on adenoidectomy for middle ear disease in this patient group are scarce, since many feared worsening of velopharyngeal insufficiency after the procedure. This review aims at collecting the available evidence on this subject, to frame possible further areas of research and interventions. Methods A PRISMA-compliant systematic review was performed. Multiple databases were searched with criteria designed to include all studies focusing on the role of adenoidectomy in treating middle ear disease in cleft palate children. After duplicate removal, abstract and full-text selection, and quality assessment, we reviewed eligible articles for clinical indications and outcomes. Results Among 321 unique citations, 3 studies published between 1964 and 1972 (2 case series and a retrospective cohort study) were deemed eligible, with 136 treated patients. The outcomes were positive in all three articles in terms of conductive hearing loss improvement, recurrent otitis media episodes reduction, and effusive otitis media resolution. Conclusion Despite promising results, research on adenoidectomy in treating middle ear disease in the cleft population has stopped in the mid-Seventies. No data are, therefore, available on the role of modern conservative adenoidectomy techniques (endoscopic and/or partial) in this context. Prospective studies are required to define the role of adenoidectomy in cleft children, most interestingly in specific subgroups such as patients requiring re-tympanostomy, given their known risk of otologic sequelae.


1982 ◽  
Vol 93 (sup386) ◽  
pp. 100-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Luotonen ◽  
A. M. M. Jokipii ◽  
P. Sipilä ◽  
J. Väyrynen ◽  
L. Jokipii ◽  
...  

1984 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 754-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Mills ◽  
Ann Uttley ◽  
Michelle McIntyre

A total of 204 chronic middle ear effusions from 122 children have been studied. Bacteria were isolated from 30 effusions. The commonest species found were Strep. pneumoniae and H. influenzae. These are also the commonest organisms causing acute otitis media (AOM). A similar pattern of serotypes was also demonstrated. In vitro sensitivity testing showed that most of the organisms isolated were sensitive to most commonly-used antibiotics. The main exception was resistance to penicillin amongst strains of H. influenzae and Staph. aureus. It is suggested that some cases of chronic secretory otitis media (SOM) may arise as a result of incomplete resolution of AOM and that the use of penicillin to treat AOM may be one factor in this process.


2003 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 3454-3462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Mason ◽  
Robert S. Munson ◽  
Lauren O. Bakaletz

ABSTRACT The gram-negative bacterium nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) is the predominant pathogen in chronic otitis media with effusion and, with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Moraxella catarrhalis, is a causative agent of acute otitis media. To identify potential virulence determinants, bacterial gene expression was monitored by differential fluorescence induction during early disease progression in one specific anatomical niche of a chinchilla model of NTHI-induced otitis media. Genomic DNA fragments from NTHI strain 86-028NP were cloned upstream of the promoterless gfpmut3 gene. NTHI strain 86-028NP served as the host for the promoter trap library. Pools of 2,000 transformants were inoculated into the left and right middle ear cavities of chinchillas. Middle ear effusions were recovered by epitympanic tap at 24 and 48 h, and clones containing promoter elements that were induced in vivo and producing green fluorescent protein were isolated by two-color fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Insert DNA was sequenced and compared to the complete genome sequence of H. influenzae strain Rd. In a screen of 16,000 clones, we have isolated 44 clones that contain unique gene fragments encoding biosynthetic enzymes, metabolic and regulatory proteins, and hypothetical proteins of unknown function. An additional eight clones contain gene fragments unique to our NTHI isolate. Using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR, we have confirmed that 26 clones demonstrated increased gene expression in vivo relative to expression in vitro. These data provide insight into the response of NTHI bacteria as they sense and respond to the middle ear microenvironment during early events of otitis media.


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