Study: ‘Biofilm’ Found in Ear Infections

A study by a Pittsburgh research institute has found bacteria-protecting biofilms coating the middle ears of children with ear infections.

The study, performed by the Center for Genomic Sciences at Allegheny-Singer Research Institute and published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, said the films block the body’s natural defenses from fighting the bacteria, causing the body to create fluid that becomes trapped in the ear, USA Today reported.

Lead author Garth Ehrlich, executive director of the institute, said short-term ear infections can be treated with oral antibiotics, but the bacteria films in chronic ear infections are very resistant to antibiotics, making them difficult to treat with medications.

The study does not put forward new ideas for treatment of chronic ear infections, but it recommends the practice of using tubes to suck the fluid out of the children’s ears, allowing oxygen to enter and help the body fight the infection, Ehrlich said.