Bartlett Sarah J, Rosenkrantz Wayne S, Sanchez Susan
Animal Dermatology Clinic, Marietta, GA 30062, USA.
Vet Dermatol. 2011 Dec;22(6):546-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3164.2011.00988.x. Epub 2011 Jun 6.
Ear cleaning solutions are designed for repeated use, which raises the possibility for bacterial contamination leading to recurrent or persistent infectious otitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bacterial contamination of commercial ear cleaners following routine home use in dogs and to describe the characteristics that are associated with contamination. Used ear cleaner bottles and information regarding their use were obtained from canine owners visiting veterinary dermatologists. Both the bottle applicator tips and the solution contents were cultured for aerobic bacteria. Bacterial contamination was present on 10% of the bottle tips and in 2% of the solutions. Isolated bacteria included Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Bacillus spp., coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp. and Burkholderia cepacia. The contamination rate was significantly higher on the applicator tips than in the solutions (P = 0.0076). The applicator tip contamination rate was significantly higher in expired samples (17%) than in-date samples (4%; P = 0.0277). The bottle sizes were significantly larger for the samples with contaminated applicator tips compared with noncontaminated tips (P = 0.0455). The contamination rate was significantly higher when Tris-EDTA was an ingredient. Cleanliness of the bottle, contact with the ear canal and infection status of the ear at time of culture had no bearing on the contamination rate. In summary, with routine home use of commercial ear cleaners, pathogenic bacterial contamination is of minor concern. This concern may increase when expired products or larger bottles of ear cleaner are used and when Tris-EDTA is an ingredient.
耳部清洁液设计为可重复使用，这增加了细菌污染导致复发性或持续性感染性中耳炎的可能性。本研究的目的是调查犬类在家中常规使用商用耳部清洁液后细菌污染的发生率，并描述与污染相关的特征。从拜访兽医皮肤科医生的犬主那里获取用过的耳部清洁液瓶子及其使用信息。对瓶子的涂抹器尖端和溶液内容物都进行需氧菌培养。10%的瓶子尖端和2%的溶液中存在细菌污染。分离出的细菌包括中间型假葡萄球菌、芽孢杆菌属、凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌属、微球菌属和洋葱伯克霍尔德菌。涂抹器尖端的污染率显著高于溶液中的污染率（P = 0.0076）。过期样品的涂抹器尖端污染率（17%）显著高于未过期样品（4%；P = 0.0277）。与未受污染的尖端相比，涂抹器尖端受污染的样品瓶子尺寸显著更大（P = 0.0455）。当成分中含有Tris - EDTA时，污染率显著更高。瓶子的清洁程度、与耳道的接触以及培养时耳朵的感染状况与污染率无关。总之，在犬类在家中常规使用商用耳部清洁液时，致病性细菌污染不太令人担忧。当使用过期产品或较大瓶的耳部清洁液以及成分中含有Tris - EDTA时，这种担忧可能会增加。
