Immunoglobulin-coated bacteria in effusions from secretory and chronic suppurative otitis media.

Samples of middle ear effusions from 10 children with secretory otitis media and from 10 children with chronic suppurative otitis media were subjected to qualitative and quantitative bacteriologic analysis. In addition, secretory immunoglobulin A (SlgA)- and IgG-coated bacteria were evaluated using the immunofluorescence technique. Secretory otitis media effusions harbored few, if any, immunoglobulin-coated bacteria, whereas chronic otitis media effusions as a rule had heavily IgG- and SlgA-coated bacteria. However, those chronic otitis media effusions that were culture positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa had no immunoglobulin-coated bacteria. The effusions of very young children were completely devoid of SlgA-coated bacteria. This study demonstrates that, based on the immunoglobulin coating of bacteria obtained from the middle ear cleft, one can evaluate immunologic response during otitis media.