[The species composition and sensitivity of pathogenic microflora responsible for the development of otitis externa diffusa to the components of Polidexa]

The adult microbiome of healthy and otitis patients: Definition of the core healthy and diseased ear microbiomes

Otitis media (OM) and externa (OE) are painful, recurrent ear conditions. As most otitis publications focus on the bacterial content of childhood ears, there remains a dearth of information regarding the adult ear microbiome including both bacteria and fungi. This study compares the outer ear microbiome of healthy adults to adults affected by OE and OM using both intergenic-transcribed-spacer (ITS) and 16S-rDNA sequencing. The adult ear core microbiome consists of the prokaryote Cutibacterium acnes and the eukaryotic Malassezia arunalokei, M. globosa, and M. restricta. The healthy ear mycobiome is dominated by Malassezia and can be divided into two groups, one dominated by M. arunalokei, the other by M. restricta. Microbiome diversity and biomass varied significantly between healthy and diseased ears, and analyses reveal the presence of a potential mutualistic, protective effect of Malassezia species and C. acnes. The healthy ear core microbiome includes the bacteria Staphylococcus capitis and S. capitis/caprae, while the diseased ear core is composed of known bacterial and fungal pathogens including Aspergillus sp., Candida sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. aureus, and Corynebacterium jeikeium. The data presented highlight the need for early detection of the cause of otitis to direct more appropriate, efficient treatments. This will improve patient outcomes and promote improved antimicrobial stewardship.

[Phage therapy of purulent-inflammatory pathology of the outer and middle ear]

The steady growth of antibiotic resistance of bacteria and, as a result, difficulties in selecting effective drugs determine the search for an alternative strategy for the use of antimicrobials, and therapy based on the use of bacteriophages is such. Phage therapy in otorhinolaryngology is actively used for the treatment of rhinosinusitis, diseases of the pharynx and larynx. However, it should be noted that the use of this group of drugs in the treatment of ear diseases is not sufficiently covered. Currently, institutes and clinics around the world are undergoing many large multicenter studies aimed not only at finding effective bacteriophages against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but also at isolating their enzymes (lysines), expression of transport proteins, genetic modifications that lead to the restoration of the sensitivity of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs. In this review, we sought to highlight modern works concerning the treatment of inflammatory ear diseases with bacteriophage preparations, the results of microbiological studies conducted in vitro, the main purpose of which was to combat multi-resistant strains of microorganisms - pathogens of purulent-inflammatory diseases of the outer and middle ear.