CORYNEFORM BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM MIDDLE-EAR FLUID

Nineteen strains of facultatively anaerobic gram-positive rods isolate d in pure culture from middle ear fluids were identified. All effusion s were collected by tympanocentesis in children with acute otitis medi a. Identification of microorganisms to the genus level was done by stu dying the cell wall composition. Sixteen strains contain meso-diaminop imelic acid and arabinogalactan polymer but lack mycolic acids; theref ore, these strains do not belong to a previously described taxon. Beca use of similarities with Corynebacterium afermentans (Centers for Dise ase Control group ANF-1), we temporarily classified these mycolateless strains ANF-1 like. Isolation of these microorganisms in pure culture from middle ear fluids collected by tympanocentesis is a strong argum ent for their involvement in acute otitis media.