[Bacteria seen in acute otitis media in children hospitalised for infectious diseases].

The authors draw the following conclusion on the basis of 85 cases of children hospitalised for infectious diseases : -amongst childhood infectious diseases, measles between the ages of 7 and 14 is most commonly associated with complications in the form of otitis (50 as against 19 other diseases). -Staphylococcus aureus was the dominant organism in measles otitis, but in addition to a particular affinity of this organism for measles, it is also necessary to bear in mind contamination by hospital flora, amongst which staphylococci are especially representative, in view of the late development of the otitis and the multiresistance of staphylococci isolated after the 4th day of admission. -Bacteria seen in other exanthematous fevers were more varied but if there is not rapid cure of the otitis, the generally sensitive flora is replaced by a multiresistant hospital flora, once again dominated by staphylococcus aureus and Gram negative bacilli. - The role played by such flora was seen to occur particularly on the 4th day of hospitalization, implying a twofold increase in the period of hospitalisation when compared with cases where paracentesis was performed before this time.