PROHIERAN Blog

It’s too soon to celebrate, but making the recent news is an experimental vaccine that is hoped to eventually prevent, or at least minimize, the occurrences of ear infections – and it might not even require a shot!

Researchers at the Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, have conducted a study that applied vaccines using a transcutaneous method – which essentially places a drop of each vaccine onto the ear itself and rubbing it into the skin – which prevented ear infections, at least on chinchillas. Groups of chinchillas were exposed to a non-typeable Haemophilus influenza or NTHi – a common cause of bacterial infection – and those given the vaccines were able to rapidly reduce or eliminate the NTHi from the nose and ear.

While the experimental vaccine delivery method is a long way from being used on people – its results are promising. “Our data are the first to show that transcutaneous immunization is an effective way to prevent experimental ear infections and lays the foundation for an effective, yet simple, inexpensive — and potentially transformative — way to deliver vaccines,” said study researcher Laura Novotny.

The news is particularly positive because ear infections continue to be a common ailment, especially in babies and toddlers, and be quite painful.

Ear infections can cause sufferers to not hear well while the ear is infected, as well as for a while afterward. For individuals with chronic ear infections, hearing loss can result. Middle ear infections are caused by bacteria and viruses, and are commonly the result of Eustachian tubes becoming blocked (often from allergies, a cold, or sinus or throat infection). This stops the fluid from draining from the middle ear, and that trapped fluid becomes a potential breeding ground for bacteria or viruses to grow into an ear infection. Not all ear infections are painful, but the fluid buildup can also cause a sensation of stuffiness, which impacts hearing.

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