Chief Investigator:

Professor Peter Morris

Funding Amount:

$74,800

Recipient:

Menzies School of Health Research

Overview:

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a severe form of persistent middle ear infection. CSOM rates in remote Aboriginal communities exceed World Health Organization levels – a massive public health problem requiring urgent attention. Hearing loss arising from persistent middle ear infection is associated with poorer educational outcomes. Standard treatments fail to resolve CSOM in 70% of children. We propose the first in-depth study of the bacteria associated with CSOM in Aboriginal children. Better understanding of the bacteria underlying CSOM is needed to inform improved treatments.