Inner Ear:
Tympanocentesis reserved for complicated, recurrent, or chronic persistent otitis media.

An ear infection (sometimes called acute otitis media) is an infection of the middle ear, the air-filled space behind the eardrum that contains the tiny vibrating bones of the ear. Children are more likely than adults to get ear infections. Because ear infections often clear up on their own, treatment may begin with managing pain and monitoring the problem. Sometimes, antibiotics are used to clear the infection. Some people are prone to having multiple ear infections. This can cause hearing problems and other serious complications. The following organisms have been recovered from tympanocentesis: S pneumoniae , H influenzae , Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis , Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa. E coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa may be isolated from neonates. In therapeutic failures, S aureus, and P aeruginosa are most frequently recovered. Otitis externa is frequently caused by P aeruginosa and less frequently by Candida sp, Proteus sp, S aureus, and Trichophyton sp.

Any microorganism found where no resident flora is present is considered significant and is reported. For specimens contaminated with the usual bacterial flora, bacteria that are potentially pathogenic are identified.