Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in nasal cultures during acute otitis media.

Middle ear fluid (MEF) aspirates and nasal swabs of children with acute otitis media (N = 255, age 2-6 yrs) were cultured by standard bacteriological methods. In addition, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and latex agglutination were applied to detect pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens (Pn-ag) in MEF. When the nasal culture grew Streptococcus pneumoniae (Pn), Pn was also present in 49% (73/148) and Pn-ag in 64% of the MEF cultures. If Haemophilus influenzae (Hi) appeared in the nasal culture. Hi was present in 41% (25/61) of the MEFs. There was a negative correlation between the growth of Pn or Hi in the nasal culture and the presence of other bacteria in the MEF. However, in spite of these correlations the nasal culture was concluded not to be useful in predicting the MEF bacteria.