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Study of common aerobic flora of human cerumen

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

A. Campos ,
A. Arias ,
L. Betancor ,
C. Rodríguez ,
A. M. Hernández ,
D. López Aguado  and
A. Sierra
A. Campos*
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of La Laguna, Spain.
A. Arias
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of La Laguna, Spain.
L. Betancor
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Canary, La Laguna, Spain.
C. Rodríguez
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of La Laguna, Spain.
A. M. Hernández
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of La Laguna, Spain.
D. López Aguado
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of Canary, La Laguna, Spain.
A. Sierra
Affiliation:
Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of La Laguna, Spain.
*
Address for correspondence: M. Antonia Campos Dominguez, Cátedra de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna 38071, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Spain
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Abstract

Cerumen is the product of the secretion of the sebaceous, ceruminous or apocrine glands together with cells exfoliated from the cornified stratum of the epithelium of the external auditory canal (EAC).

In the present study we identified and quantified common flora of human cerumen. The mean count obtained was 106 microorganisms per ml of cerumen suspension.

In 24 pools of cerumen (33.3 per cent) the isolates were monomicrobial, Staphylococcus epidermidis (12), Corynebacterium spp (10), Staphylococcus aureus (1) and Streptococcus saprophyticum (1). In 48 pools (66.6 per cent) we found polymicrobial isolates.

The most commonly isolated bacteria in these polymicrobial isolates were S. epidermidis (35) and Corynebacterium spp. (43). It is noteworthy that there were isolates of Candida albicans in three cases; in one case of Pseudomonas stutzeri, in one case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and, on seven occasions, of S. aureus.

The organisms isolated as common bacterial components of human cerumen in our experience were similar to those found by other authors. However, the mean count was much higher. This could be related t o climatic conditions and to the length of time the cerumen had remained in the external auditory canal.

Keywords

CerumenMicrobiology
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 7 , July 1998 , pp. 613 - 616
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

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