Final answer:
Acute otitis media (AOM) is mainly caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis, with factors such as children's eustachian tube structure and behaviors increasing risk. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while not a typical cause of AOM, often causes otitis externa, showing diversity in bacterial ear infections.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acute otitis media (AOM) is an inflammation of the middle ear commonly caused by bacteria. Among different age groups, the causative agents vary. For neonates, the most prevalent bacteria responsible for AOM is Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), but Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., and group B Streptococcus can also cause the infection. In older infants and young children under 14 years old, the leading bacterial causes include S. pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis. These bacteria induce an inflammatory response, leading to symptoms such as swelling and pus within the middle ear.
Factors such as the anatomical structure of children's eustachian tubes and behaviors like lying down while bottle feeding can facilitate acute otitis media with effusion (OME), which is the accumulation of fluid in the middle ear, providing a breeding ground for bacteria and leading to infection. Secondary bacterial infection often occurs when bacteria from an upper respiratory tract infection become trapped in the eustachian tube.
Common Bacterial Triggers for Rhinosinusitis and Other Infections
A frequent factor that triggers bacterial rhinosinusitis is also an upper respiratory infection, which can lead to blockage of sinuses and subsequent bacterial colonization. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common pathogen that, while it causes otitis externa rather than AOM, demonstrates the variety of bacteria that can infect the ear.