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Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Acute or chronic ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions in people living with HIV can lead to hospitalization and affect their quality of life. The aim of our study was...
Acute or chronic ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions in people living with HIV can lead to hospitalization and affect their quality of life. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of hospitalizations for acute sinusitis (AS) and acute otitis (AO) in people living with HIV. We performed a retrospective analysis over the course of six years (from January 2018 to December 2023), assessing all hospitalizations for AS and/or AO occurring in patients living with HIV, at the largest infectious diseases hospital in Romania. We identified a total of 179 cases, among which 149 cases (83.2%) were attributed to AS and 41 cases (22.9%) were due to AO. Among cases of AS, maxillary sinuses were most frequently involved ( = 140/149, 94.0%), and among cases of AO, acute congestive otitis media ( = 14, 34.1%) and acute purulent otitis media ( = 13, 31.7%) were the most common forms. The underlying HIV infection was classified as stage C3 in 57.5% of cases. In 19.6% of cases, it was possible to identify either the trigger or the etiological agent, and the most frequent bacterial pathogens were , , and . In conclusion, this study highlights that hospitalizations due to acute sinus and ear involvement are not isolated events in people living with HIV. A prospective follow-up is needed to gain a deeper and more dynamic understanding of how ENT health is affected in people with HIV infection. Furthermore, promoting prevention through vaccination may reduce to a certain extent the burden of ENT infections in this population.
PubMed: 38893057
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113346 -
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck... 2024The high incidence of pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) makes the implications of overdiagnosis and overtreatment far-reaching. Quality indicators (QIs) for AOM are...
BACKGROUND
The high incidence of pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) makes the implications of overdiagnosis and overtreatment far-reaching. Quality indicators (QIs) for AOM are limited, drawing from generalized upper respiratory infection QIs, or locally developed benchmarks. Recognizing this, we sought to develop pediatric AOM QIs to build a foundation for future quality improvement efforts.
METHODS
Candidate indicators (CIs) were extracted from existing guidelines and position statements. The modified RAND Corporation/University of California, Los Angeles (RAND/UCLA) appropriateness methodology was used to select the final QIs by an 11-member expert panel consisting of otolaryngology-head and neck surgeons, a pediatrician and family physician.
RESULTS
Twenty-seven CIs were identified after literature review, with an additional CI developed by the expert panel. After the first round of evaluations, the panel agreed on 4 CIs as appropriate QIs. After an expert panel meeting and subsequent second round of evaluations, the panel agreed on 8 final QIs as appropriate measures of high-quality care. The 8 final QIs focus on topics of antimicrobial management, specialty referral, and tympanostomy tube counseling.
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence of variable and substandard care persists in the diagnosis and management of pediatric AOM despite the existence of high-quality guidelines. This study proposes 8 QIs which compliment guideline recommendations and are meant to facilitate future quality improvement initiatives that can improve patient outcomes.
Topics: Humans; Otitis Media; Quality Indicators, Health Care; Acute Disease; Child; Quality Improvement
PubMed: 38888942
DOI: 10.1177/19160216241248538 -
PloS One 2024Most US children with acute otitis media [AOM] receive prompt antibiotic treatment, though guidelines encourage watchful waiting. Previous systematic reviews of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Most US children with acute otitis media [AOM] receive prompt antibiotic treatment, though guidelines encourage watchful waiting. Previous systematic reviews of antibiotics versus watchful waiting have focused on symptom resolution and RCTs, limiting the assessment of serious, rare complications. We sought to evaluate these complications by including observational studies.
METHODS
RCTs and observational studies that compared antibiotics to placebo or watchful waiting for pediatric clinician diagnosed AOM were identified [PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science] and reviewed for meta-analysis. Two reviewers independently extracted study characteristics, patient characteristics, and outcomes. We assessed publication bias, study bias with ROBINS-1 and RoB-2 and used random-effects models to assess treatment effects.
RESULTS
24 studies were included. Antibiotics decreased the risk of acute mastoiditis [incidence 0.02%, RR 0.48, 95% CI 0.40-0.59; NNT 5,368]. This protective effect may be underestimated because of misclassification of non-suppurative conditions as AOM. Intracranial complications remained too rare to assess. Antibiotics markedly increased the risk of adverse effects [incidence 10.5%, RR 1.49, 1.27-1.73; NNH 23]. Studies used non-specific criteria for acute mastoiditis, potentially underestimating treatment effects.
CONCLUSIONS
Prompt antibiotic therapy reduces the risk for some AOM complications. The NNT to prevent serious, rare complications is high, while the NNH is relatively low. Large-scale population-based observational studies using real-world datasets with validated measures of severe complications are needed to improve understanding of risk factors for serious AOM complications, facilitate more selective antibiotic therapy, and optimize individual outcomes and public health.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Otitis Media; Child; Acute Disease; Child, Preschool; Mastoiditis; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 38885271
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304742 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024The tympanic membrane forms a barrier between the external auditory canal and the middle ear. In the inactive mucosal type of chronic otitis media, there is a...
The tympanic membrane forms a barrier between the external auditory canal and the middle ear. In the inactive mucosal type of chronic otitis media, there is a perforation in the tympanic membrane which is surgically managed by Myringoplasty. Estrogen as a growth factor has been shown to have a mitogenic effect on keratinocytes thus hastening the rate of epithelialization following injury. This property of estrogen is being studied in this study for its role in the outcomes of myringoplasty. This study was carried out from January 2021 to December 2022 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, of a tertiary teaching hospital in North India. Patients were assessed by history, examination, otoscopy, Audiometry, and oto-endoscopy. A total of 88 patients were taken out of which 44 patients underwent myringoplasty in which topical estrogen (estradiol valerate solution) was used, and the remaining 44 patients were taken as controls. Patients were then assessed post-operatively based on Audiometry results and graft uptake status. In the estrogen group successful Graft uptake was in seen 40 (90.9%) patients and failed in 4 (9.1%), while in the control group, it was successful in 37 (84.1%) patients and failed in 7 (15.9%), statistically there was no significant difference between two groups in terms of graft uptake ( value = 0.334). Post-operatively, in the estrogen group, the mean change in Air Conduction (AC) was 15.5 dB, the change in the air-bone gap (ABG) was 11.5 dB and for Bone Conduction (BC) it was 3.2 dB. However, in the control group mean post-operative changes in Air Conduction, Air-Bone Gap, and Bone Conduction were 12 dB, 10.7 dB, and 0.8 dB respectively. Statistically, there was a significant difference in postoperative changes in AC ( value = 0.011) and BC ( value = 0.009) between the two groups. There was no significant difference in post-operative changes in Air-Bone Gap ( value = 0.571). Topical Estrogen (Estradiol valerate) solution is cost-effective, with enriched growth factors that accelerate tympanic membrane perforation closure following myringoplasty and resulted in significant improvement in hearing thresholds both for Air Conduction and Bone Conduction.
PubMed: 38883536
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-04531-z -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024Tuberculosis (TB) constitutes 15-20% of TB cases in general practice among HIV-negative adults in India. The head and neck region provides an impressive field of...
Tuberculosis (TB) constitutes 15-20% of TB cases in general practice among HIV-negative adults in India. The head and neck region provides an impressive field of research because of its varied presentations and different sites of involvement. TB may often mimic malignancy and is misdiagnosed, which leads to an unnecessary delay in diagnosis. Through this study, we aim to draw focus on the various ways in which isolated extrapulmonary TB manifests in today's clinical practice in the head and neck region. Prospective analysis of 60 patients diagnosed with TB in a simple random sampling over 1 year. The period of study was from July 2022 to June 2023. All those patients who presented to the ENT OPD of Civil Hospital of Asarwa. Patients with complete clinical data were included in the study. In our study patients in the 3rd and 4th decade of life were most commonly affected and a male preponderance of the disease was seen. The most common presentation of EPTB in the head and neck region is cervical lymphadenitis, followed by tuberculous otitis media and laryngeal TB. Each of these has a characteristic clinical presentation that helps to identify this disease. Fine needle aspiration cytology is a very efficient cytopathological examination method that helps in the diagnosis of the disease. Special care should be taken in patients in whom other routine conventional medical and surgical therapy fail to show the desired outcome. Special care and a high degree of suspicion are needed to diagnose extrapulmonary TB. Once rightly diagnosed, it will prevent the progression of the disease and its complications.
PubMed: 38883520
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-04494-1 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024Chronic Otitis Media is characterized by distinct bacteriology compared with Acute Otitis Media, with COM being highly likely to harbor multiple bacteria of anaerobic...
Chronic Otitis Media is characterized by distinct bacteriology compared with Acute Otitis Media, with COM being highly likely to harbor multiple bacteria of anaerobic and aerobic types of organisms (Cameron and Hussam K. El-Kashlan, xxx). In some patients, chronic infection with otorrhea will persist despite aggressive medical therapy. With the large number of cases of COM which presents to Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, and a majority being resistant to the common medications, we decided to undertake this study to have a better understanding of the bacterial epidemiology, the resistance, and what antibiotic to use in such cases. To determine the prevalence of different bacteriological agents and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern in patients of Chronic Otitis Media-Active Mucosal Disease presenting to ENT OPD at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, Mangolpuri, Delhi. An observational cross-sectional study of 200 patients. After an initial examination, two sterile cotton swab sticks were introduced to collect pus samples from the medial part of the external auditory canal. The swabs were sent to the microbiology lab for Gram Staining, Culture, and Biochemical Tests, for identification of the different bacteriological agents and their antibiotic sensitivity patterns. Most common organism seen was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, followed by , mixed bacterial growth, and Candida spp. If regular monitoring of bacteriological profile is done in each hospital, this will help us to choose the antibiotics in a better manner and hence prevent the appearance of newer resistant strains.
PubMed: 38883512
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-04573-3 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024Otitis media is a common childhood disease in developing countries and is the most important cause of preventable hearing loss among Indian children. To study the...
UNLABELLED
Otitis media is a common childhood disease in developing countries and is the most important cause of preventable hearing loss among Indian children. To study the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding risk factors for otitis media among caretakers of children in Puducherry. This was a questionnaire based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from April 2023 to June 2023. All the caregivers of children aged 2-12 years presented or diagnosed with otitis media under our inclusion criteria were interviewed. Overall, most caretakers displayed good knowledge (67%), positive attitude (62%) and good care-seeking practices (49%). There was a positive correlation with sociodemographic parameters. The odd's ratio for overcrowding was high (OR = 4, = 0.042 for knowledge and attitude, OR = 3.929, = 0.041 for practices). Higher score was seen among middle class with odd's ratio 1.417 for knowledge and attitude and 4.875 for practices ( = 0.041). Graduate parents had higher score with the odd's ratio that was statistically significant. Most of the caregivers had a good knowledge regarding symptoms of otitis media and an acceptable level of caregivers' attitude and care seeking practices. Higher scores were associated with overcrowding, socioeconomic status, parental education. Improvement in risk factors and providing health education will reduce prevalence of OM in children and thereby reduce preventable hearing loss in children.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-024-04551-9.
PubMed: 38883498
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-04551-9 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024Ossicular destruction is a common phenomenon in chronic otitis media due to an imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Computed tomography helps us in the...
Ossicular destruction is a common phenomenon in chronic otitis media due to an imbalance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Computed tomography helps us in the assessment of ossicular status, extent of pneumatization, and early identification of complications. This study aims to check the diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography temporal bone for the detection of ossicular erosion in comparison with the surgical findings taken as a gold standard. The use of this investigation as an adjunct can prove to be helpful in planning mastoid exploration as well as a primary reconstruction surgery especially in mucosal and early squamosal diseases. It's a cross-sectional validation study done on 50 patients with chronic otitis media (both mucosal and squamous type) from July 2022 to November 2023. Patients underwent CT scanning of temporal bone and ossicular status was reported by the radiologist. Later on, mastoid surgery was carried out and per operative findings were documented. 2 × 2 tables were formed and diagnostic accuracy of CT temporal bone was checked in terms of sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. The results revealed that CT temporal bone has a high diagnostic accuracy with a sensitivity of 92.5% and specificity of 100% for malleus ( value < 0.001). For incus and stapes, sensitivity came out to be 93.5% and 76% respectively and specificity values were 94.7% and 100% ( value < 0.001 for all) giving a verdict that the pre-operative use of this radiological investigation should be encouraged by otologists.
PubMed: 38883477
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-04561-7 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024In this study, we attempt to compare the pure tone audiometry findings with ossicular chain status intraoperatively in patients of chronic otitis media.
AIMS
In this study, we attempt to compare the pure tone audiometry findings with ossicular chain status intraoperatively in patients of chronic otitis media.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
102 patients who presented with COM during a period of one year and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. All patients underwent preoperative pure tone Audiometry and findings were tabulated. All patients were evaluated intraoperatively by the same surgeon and observations were made regarding ossicular chain integrity.
RESULTS
Small central perforation was noted in 10%, medium central perforation in 38.57%, large central perforation in 27.14% and subtotal perforation in 24.28%. 71.56% patients had an intact ossicular chain, of which 94.5% was mucosal disease and 5.5% were squamous disease. 29 cases showed eroded/absent ossicles, out of which, 28 had squamous type and 1 case had central perforation. Ossicular status was classified based on Austin Classification. Conductive hearing loss was found to be maximum where all 3 ossicles were eroded/absent, with a mean AB gap of 45.33 and mean air conduction threshold of 60.33.
CONCLUSION
There is a good correlation between the hearing threshold of the patient and the status of ossicular chain. Preoperative knowledge of the degree of hearing loss and status of ossicular chain would allow the surgeon to plan proper ossicular reconstruction and give the patient a better advice regarding prognosis of hearing improvement after surgery.
PubMed: 38883463
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-04557-3 -
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and... Jun 2024Primary objective of this study was to compare the role of canalplasty in tympanoplasty, with that of only tympanoplasty, in patients of chronic suppurative otitis media...
Primary objective of this study was to compare the role of canalplasty in tympanoplasty, with that of only tympanoplasty, in patients of chronic suppurative otitis media with narrow external auditory canal and moderate to large central perforation, in terms of hearing improvement, graft uptake, intra operative ease. This study included 60 patients with chronic mucosal otitis media with narrow external auditory canal, with moderate to large central perforation, presenting to our institution from September 2019 to August 2021. Group A consisted of 30 patients, who underwent tympanoplasty with canalplasty and Group B consisted of 30 patients, who underwent tympanoplasty without canalplasty. Both the groups were followed up for 3 months, compared and analysed for hearing improvement and graft uptake. The results of our study indicated that Group A achieved 93.3% graft uptake rates compared to group B which achieved 80%. In Group A gain in air bone gap was 12.43 dB, whereas in Group B it was about 9.50 dB. Group A had significant hearing improvement and better graft uptake compared to Group B. It is advantageous to perform canalplasty prior to tympanoplasty in patients with narrow external auditory canal in whom the entire rim of annulus is not visible in one microscopic view. It yields better hearing improvement and graft uptake and prevents lateralization of the graft.
PubMed: 38883459
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-04515-z