| REVIEW ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2018 | Volume
: 8
| Issue : 3 | Page : 70-78 |
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Otitis media and biofilm: An overview
Muhamad Bin Abu Bakar1, Judy McKimm2, Mainul Haque1
1 Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2 Swansea University School of Medicine, Grove Building, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales SA2 8PP, UK
Correspondence Address:
Mainul Haque
Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Perdana Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/ijnpnd.ijnpnd_28_18
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Otitis media (OM) is a group of complex infective and inflammatory conditions affecting the middle ear, with a variety of subtypes differing in presentation and associated complications. It is the highest cause of pediatric health-care visits and antibiotic prescriptions internationally. It has been stated that approximately 75% of children under age three suffer from middle-ear infections. OM complications are the essential cause of preventable hearing loss, particularly in low-resource settings. Currently, scientists have confirmed that bacteria form colonies in the middle ear and are responsible for chronic infections. While bacteria are often thought of as independently free-floating living microorganisms, most of the bacteria and fungus forms organize complex communities and attach to surfaces called biofilm. Biofilm formation is considered as a survival strategy by bacteria to counteract traditional approaches (such as antibiotics) which are effective against bacteria. Biofilms are almost impossible to grow in the laboratory media and are incredibly resistant to antimicrobials which mean that the diagnosis of chronic OM is one of the most challenging in the management of middle-ear infection. This article aims to provide an appraisal of current scientific successes within the field of OM research and clinical management. |
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