Intracranial abscess is a serious, life-threatening condition with a dire prognosis. Although the advent of the antibiotic era has drastically reduced the incidence of the disease, predisposing factors such as untreated ear infections, poor personal hygiene, significant trauma with violation of the sterile cranial environment as well as existing co-morbidities such as an immunocompromised state make intracranial abscess a horrifying reality. Ear infections, in particular, are notorious for being the origin of roughly 50% of cerebellar abscesses.1 Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is one of the leading causes of brain abscess. Shaw and Russell2 reviewed 47 cases of cerebellar abscess and showed that 93% were caused by CSOM; the most common mechanism of entry into the brain parenchyma being direct extension. Chronic infection in the middle ear space could erode through the tegmen tympani and into the temporal lobe or through the tegmen mastoidei into the cerebellum. Neurological symptoms may be delayed as the abscess ‘grows’ in areas around the cerebellum that are regarded as ‘silent’, until vital areas such as those responsible for coordination and balance are violated. We describe a case of cerebellar abscess secondary to CSOM and discuss the possibility of performing ear surgery with simultaneous drainage of a contiguous abscess through a transmastoid approach in cases of chronic suppurative otitis media with intracranial complications.
Human ; Male ; Young Adult ; EAR DISEASES ; OTITIS ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; OTITIS MEDIA-COMPLICATIONS, suppuration, SURGERY ; CHRONIC EAR DISEASE ; pain ; Headache

Mouret abscess is a rare extracranial complication of suppurative otitis media. It is generally believed to be a deep neck abscess caused by inflammation leading to the rupture of the bony tip of the mastoid tip. The location of Mouret abscess is deep. The symptoms are insidious at the onset, but may eventually spread to the surrounding tissue, and even lead to mediastinal abscess, cavernous sinus thrombosis, meningitis, dyspnea and other serious complications. At present, with the popularization of antibiotics, the occurrence rate of Mouret abscess is very low, and only sporadic cases have been reported.In this paper, a case of Mouret abscess caused by cholesteatoma was analyzed to explore Mouret abscess in terms of the route of infection, clinical manifestations, imaging features, diagnosis and treatment.
Abscess ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Cholesteatoma ; complications ; Humans ; Mastoid ; pathology ; Meningitis ; Neck ; pathology ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; complications

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the rarely reported ocular complications following surgery of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and explore the possible mechanisms. METHOD: The clinical data of 4,012 cases of CSOM treated with surgery were analyzed retrospectively, including age, sex, operation time, surgical approach, time of ocular symptoms presentation, duration of ocular symptoms, treatment and prognosis. RESULT: Among the 4,012 cases, 109 patients (2.72%) developed ocular complication, of which 68.81% (75/109) suffered from blurred vision, 24.77% (27/109) presented only erythema on eyelids or mild periorbital edema, 4.59% (5/109) had erythema on eyelids with periorbital edema, and 1.83% (2/109) complained of periorbital ecchymosis and edema. All of these complications recovered themselves without any sequela. CONCLUSION Ocular complications following surgery of CSOM are rarely reported. Pre-auricular incision and fascia harvesting, turbulence of venous and lymphatic drainage and preseptal cellulitis might be the risk factors. Blurred vision might be associated with eye injury during surgery and the use of anticholinergic agent.
Chronic Disease ; Eye Diseases ; Humans ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Objective To explore the factors related to tympanic membrane perforation in children with acute suppurative otitis media,and to provide reference for clinical practice. Methods We reviewed the clinical data of 1274 children with acute suppurative otitis media from February 2017 to May 2020,and analyzed the factors related to tympanic membrane perforation. Results Tympanic membrane perforation occurred in 67 out of the 1274 children with acute suppurative otitis media,with the incidence of 5.27%.The univariate analysis showed that 11 factors including the duration of onset(
Child ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Otitis Media, Suppurative/complications* ; Procalcitonin ; Risk Factors ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation/etiology*

We present a case of subarachnoid hemorrhage induced by chronic suppurative otitis media and discuss the possible mechanism here. Chronic suppurative otitis media is a common suppurative inflammation of middle ear, which can cause sorts of extracranial and intracranial complications in the situation of lower resistance or higher virulence. However, the condition of subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by chronic suppurative otitis media is quite rare. According to this case and previously published articles, we consider that meningitis may be the main reason of subarachnoid hemorrhage induced by chronic suppurative otitis media.
Chronic Disease ; Ear, Middle ; Female ; Humans ; Meningitis ; complications ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; complications ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; complications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of major pathogens in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). In addition to intrinsic MRSA infection of the mastoid air cell system, nasal colonization of MRSA, a known predictor of postoperative surgical site infection, may pose increased risk of postoperative complications. The purpose of this study is to describe microbiology of preoperative nasal swab screening and localized middle ear specimens in patients undergoing otologic surgeries. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-nine consecutive patients with CSOM who underwent middle ear surgery were included. Preoperative nasal swabs for MRSA, and preoperative and intraoperative middle ear swabs were collected and compared for pathogens. RESULTS: Preoperative nasal swab screening confirmed MRSA colonization in 3/49 patients (6.1%) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (MRCNS) in 9/49 patients (18.4%). Correlation with preoperative culture results and nasal swab screening results were compatible in 2/4 patients with positive nasal swab for MRSA and 1/9 patients with positive nasal swab for MRCNS. Postoperative conversion to MRSA was observed in 3 patients. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of nasal MRSA colonization among patients with CSOM was higher than among the general community. Preoperative MRSA colonization was associated with MRSA from middle ear specimens. Further studies are warranted to investigate the possible benefit of preoperative treatment of MRSA colonized patients undergoing middle ear surgeries.
Colon ; Ear, Middle ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Mastoid ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Otitis Media ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; Postoperative Complications ; Staphylococcus

Adolescent ; Adult ; Eustachian Tube ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; complications ; surgery ; Tympanoplasty ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of the self-prepared ear dropping made by combined Chinese and Western drugs in treating chronic suppurative otitis media caused large tympanic membrane perforation.

METHODSSixty-four patients were randomly divided into two groups, the treated group treated with the self-prepared ear-dropping and the control group treated with ear-dropping made by placebo, to observe the therapeutic effect and adverse reaction.

RESULTSIn the 32 patients of the treated group, 15 patients were cured, the cured tympanic membrane was normal in shape and thickness in 11, scarred in 3, and thin and transparent in 1. The hearing was improved in all patients with cured tympanic membrane. But no one was cured in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe self-prepared ear-dropping had good effect in treating tympanic membrane perforation, it is simple, cheap and no need of further operation.

Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media, Suppurative ; complications ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Tympanic Membrane Perforation ; drug therapy ; etiology

Widespread use of antimicrobial drugs in the management of otitis media has significantly reduced the incidence of labyrinthitis nowadays. Cases of tympanogenic labyrinthitis following acute otitis media have rarely been reported in recent literature on otolaryngology. We report an unusual case of tympanogenic labyrinthitis that presented with sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) following acute otitis media in an adult who had no previous otological complaints. An audiogram revealed SNHL with pure tone threshold of 43.7 dB in the left ear. MRI was helpful to identify the inflammatory change of the membranous labyrinth. The patient's hearing returned to normal after treatment. The definite diagnosis of serous labyrinthitis was established retrospectively.
Acute Disease ; Adult ; Audiometry, Pure-Tone ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural/diagnosis/*etiology/therapy ; Humans ; Labyrinthitis/*complications/therapy ; Otitis Media, Suppurative/*complications/therapy ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Tympanic Membrane

The origin of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from otolaryngology outpatients has not been evaluated yet in Korea. We analyzed epidemiologic and genetic characteristics of MRSA isolates from the ear discharge of 64 outpatients with chronic otitis media in a Korean University Hospital during 2004. MRSA strains were grouped as either from the initial visit (n=33) or the follow-up visit (n=31) based on the timing of isolation. Healthcare-associated risk factors were frequently present among patients of the initial visit group, especially prior visit to primary clinic (79%) and antibiotic use (73%). SCCmec typing and multilocus sequence typing results showed that two genotypes, ST5-MRSA-II and ST239-MRSAIII, were prevalent in both the initial visit (73% vs. 24%) and the follow-up visit (55% vs. 42%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified eight types, including two major types shared by both groups. We conclude that majority of MRSA strains from ear discharge of chronic otitis media belonged to nosocomial clones that might be circulating in the community. This is the first report of the genetic analysis of MRSA strains from otolaryngology practices in Korea.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*genetics ; Middle Aged ; Otitis Media, Suppurative/complications/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcal Infections/complications/epidemiology/*microbiology