Chlamydia: its influence in chronic secretory otitis media.

Since Chlamydia trachomatis was isolated from middle ear effusions of neonates with natally acquired chlamydial infection (Tipple et al., 1979), there have been several studies to detect chlamydia in older children with chronic secretory otitis media, mainly by tissue culture. In this study, the aspirates of 106 middle ear effusions of 60 children with chronic secretory otitis media were investigated for the presence of C. trachomatis, other bacteria and viruses. An amplified enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to detect the presence of chlamydia. The bacteriological and virological results mirrored previous studies in the United Kingdom and no chlamydia were found. Chlamydia do not appear to be related to the aetiology of this disease in the population examined.