Infection rates after tympanostomy tube insertion, comparing Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory, Australia: a retrospective, comparative study.

2009-05-01

Jassar, P

Sibtain, A

Marco, D

Jose, J

Hunter, G

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK. pjassar@yahoo.co.uk

Child

Child, Preschool

Female

Humans

Infant

Male

Middle Ear Ventilation

Northern Territory

Otitis Media with Effusion

Postoperative Period

Retrospective Studies

Risk Factors

Statistics as Topic

Surgical Wound Infection

Journal Article

Publication

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is a difference in infection rates between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, following tympanostomy and ventilation tube placement, in the Northern Territory, Australia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cohort of 213 patients aged zero to 10 years who had undergone tympanostomy and ventilation tube placement at the Royal Darwin Hospital between 1996 and 2004 were identified. Patients were divided into Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal groups, from their medical record. Factors such as age, sex, dwelling (remote or urban) and season were compared for each group, in order to ascertain if they contributed to infection rates. A retrospective analysis of cases was conducted for the two-year post-operative period. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in infection rates between the two groups (37 vs 35 per cent). There was no statistically significant difference when comparing the two groups for age, sex, season, or remote vs urban dwelling. CONCLUSION: Aboriginal children were not prone to more infections following tympanostomy tube placement when compared with non-Aboriginal children.

link

J Laryngol Otol . 2009 May;123(5):497-501. doi: 10.1017/S002221510800306X. Epub 2008 Jun 25.

1748-5460

1748-5460

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18577271/?otool=iaurydwlib