Demonstration of Chlamydia pneumoniae in the adenoid from children with and without secretory otitis media using immunohistochemistry and PCR

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been found in patients with middle ear inflammation. The adenoid, which has a central role in the development of secretory otitis media (SOM), may act as a reservoir for bacteria causing ear infection. Adenoid tissue sas examined far the presence of C. pneumoniae. Twenty children undergoing adenoidectomy because of hyperplastic adenoids, 10 with SOM and 10 without SOM, were examined with nasopharyngeal swabs for routine bacteriological culture, serology for C. pneumoniae and throat swabs for C. pneumoniae PCR. The removed tissues sere analyzed for C. pneumoniae using immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis and PCR. In the group of children with SOM samples were also taken from the middle ear fluid for routine bacteriological culture and PCR for C. pneumoniae. C. pneumoniae II-as found in the adenoid bu PCR in 3 cases from each group and from all 10 children by IHC. Four children in each group had increased levels of specific antibodies to C. pneumoniae. Trio children with SOM had high antibody titers and a positive PCR from a throat swab. Two children were PCR-positive for C. pneumoniae in fluid from the middle ear. The significance of these findings is not vet clear.