Ear Nose and Throat Studies

Biofilm in Ear Nose and Throat Infections

Many children suffer from chronic and/or recurrent ear,nose and throat infections. Even following many courses of antibiotics, infections often do not improve, or get better for only a short time before returning. Our research in ENT infections is focussed on why some children are particularly prone to these infections, especially populations such as Aboriginal children who have very high rates of chronic ear disease and associated complications such as hearing loss.

The biofilm trials aim to investigate the role of bacterial biofilm in chronic or recurrent ENT infections. Samples are taken from participating children who are having surgery for grommets, removal of tonsils or adenoids, or nasal and sinus surgery. The samples are examined under special microscopes to identify if biofilm is present. We also take nose and throat swabs to look for the presence of bacteria known to cause ear, nose and throat infections. This project also looks at children’s immune responses in their blood, tonsils, adenoids and saliva against the common germs that cause ENT infections to see if children who have biofilm lack protective immune responses to the germs that form biofilm.

STUDY STATUS: Currently recruiting. The Biofilm study needs healthy children 2 to 15 years old who have had no history of ear, nose or throat infections.

The GROMIT Study

The GROMIT study will investigate the Genetics of Recurrent Otitis Media and Immunology in Toddlers. The study will aim to get better insight into why some young children sufffer from recurrent ear infections. We will study the immune function and genetic factors underlying this increased susceptibility to otitis media.

STUDY STATUS: Currently recruiting. We are looking for children having grommet surgery for ear infections and children aged 0 to 36 months who have never had any ear infections.

GAS (group A strep) is a common cause of throat and skin infections, but is also responsible for some rare but more serious diseases such as scarlet fever, Toxic Shock Syndrome and rheumatic fever. GAS infection can cause permanent damage to the heart and kidneys. This study will aid future work on a vaccine against GAS infection.

STUDY STATUS:  Recruitment completed 

The recurrent ear infection (otitis media) study looked at the effects of Prevenar™ (a vaccine against the pneumococcal germ, which is the most common cause of ear infections) in children who have recurrent ear infections. Children eligible for the study were aged between 12 and 24 months, and had 3 or more episodes of ear infections diagnosed by a doctor in the last 6 months or 4 or more episodes in the last 12 months. The control group included children of the same age who did not have recurrent ear infections (ie no more than one ear infection) and were otherwise healthy. The participants have completed their study visits and the data is currently being analysed.

STUDY STATUS: Completed.