AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF THE COMMON AEROBIC FLORA OF HUMAN CERUMEN IN GHAZIABAD AND ITS SURROUNDINGS - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Dr Aastha Mattoo; Dr. Mohit Bhatia

Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2018

AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF THE COMMON AEROBIC FLORA OF HUMAN CERUMEN IN GHAZIABAD AND ITS SURROUNDINGS - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Dr Aastha Mattoo, Dr. Mohit Bhatia

Abstract :

The temporal bone houses the structure commonly known as the ear. The ear is divided into three parts- the external ear, the middle ear and the inner ear. The external ear comprises of the auricle and the external auditory meatus (ear canal) which is further closed medially by the tympanic memane. The human auditory canal is a wonderfully designed structure with self-cleansing properties whereby the cerumen migrates laterally and sloughs externally. Cerumen, or "earwax," is a wax like substance that luicates the skin, preventing its desiccation, has antibacterial properties and may prevent intrusion of insects. The skin of the external auditory canal and auricle is predominantly occupied by Gram-positive over Gram-negative bacteria. The main Gram-positive bacteria are staphylococci, coryneforms, streptococci and enterococci, micrococci, and bacillus. Gram-negative species inhabit the auricle and skin of the external auditory meatus to a much lesser extent with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Moraxella osloensis in relative abundance. A study has revealed that 48% patients had no growth, suggesting that there need not be an underlying bacterial or fungal infection to cause itching. All these patients had a dry canal skin without cerumen. This is attributed to a condition called ASTEATOSIS. Asteatosis is a common condition of the external auditory canal where the skin surface is dry and lacks cerumen. A knowledge of the bacterial flora of the human ear canal in health is essential in evaluating the possible etiologic significance of organisms cultured from the diseased canal.