A Multicenter Study to Investigate the Positive Rate of SARS-CoV-2 in Middle Ear and Mastoid Specimens from Otologic Surgery Patients

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel coronavirus, causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Otologic surgeries with drilling by powered instruments induce significant aerosols, which may induce SARS-CoV-2 transmission to medical staff if SARS-CoV-2 exists in the middle ear and mastoid cavity. During a COVID-19 pandemic, therefore, confirming a negative COVID-19 test prior to otologic surgery is recommended. However, previous coronavirus studies demonstrated that coronavirus was detected in the middle ear in some patients even though the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test using their nasopharyngeal swab was negative.

Source: Auris, Nasus, Larynx - July 28, 2022 Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Hiroshi Yamazaki, Norio Yamamoto, Toru Sonoyama, Hayato Maruoka, Seiko Nasu, Akiko Makino, Keizo Tomonaga, Norifumi Shigemoto, Hiroki Ohge, Keizo Fujiwara, Shogo Shinohara, Sachio Takeno, Koichi Omori, Yasushi Naito Source Type: research