Context.—Otitis media with effusion (OME) can lead to significant hearing loss in children.
Although previous studies have shown that bacterial DNA is present in a significant
percentage of effusions sterile by culture, whether the DNA represents viable organisms or"
fossilized remains" is unknown. Objective.—To determine if bacterial messenger RNA
(mRNA), as detected by a reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)–
based assay, is present in chronic pediatric middle ear effusions that contain bacterial DNA …