Middle ear secretory capacity after acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, non-typeable or type B Haemophilus influenzae. A comparative analysis based on goblet cell density.

To investigate whether the type of bacteria is correlated with an increase in goblet cell density during and after acute otitis media, we inoculated the middle ear of 25 rats with either Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, non-typeable or type b Haemophilus influenzae. Mucosal goblet cell density was determined by a whole-mount method on days 4, 8, 16, 60 and 180 post-inoculation. The goblet cell density was increased on all days of sacrifice, employing either bacteria, except M. catarrhalis 6 months after the acute incident. Type b H. influenzae induced the highest increase, followed by non-typeable H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae and M. catarrhalis. The mucosal area containing goblet cells was enlarged on all examination days, employing either bacteria. We conclude, that mucosal secretory capacity is highly increased during and up to 6 months after acute middle ear infection caused by either bacteria, conceivably predisposing a subsequent development of secretory otitis media. The results indicate that type b H. influenzae seems to be the bacteria most likely to induce a subsequent secretory condition.