Moraxella catarrhalis acute otitis media

*Moraxella catarrhalis* acute otitis media is an acute bacterial infection and inflammation of the middle ear space caused by the Gram-negative diplococcus *Moraxella catarrhalis* Predominantly affecting infants and young children, the condition typically arises following a viral upper respiratory tract infection that causes Eustachian tube dysfunction, enabling the pathogen to ascend from the nasopharynx into the middle ear Pathophysiologically, the resulting mucosal inflammation leads to middl...

*Moraxella catarrhalis* acute otitis media is an acute bacterial infection and inflammation of the middle ear space caused by the Gram-negative diplococcus *Moraxella catarrhalis* Predominantly affecting infants and young children, the condition typically arises following a viral upper respiratory tract infection that causes Eustachian tube dysfunction, enabling the pathogen to ascend from the nasopharynx into the middle ear

Pathophysiologically, the resulting mucosal inflammation leads to middle ear effusion, localized purulence, and increased tympanic pressure

Clinically, it presents with rapid-onset otalgia, tympanic membrane erythema and distinct bulging, fever, and, in nonverbal pediatric patients, systemic signs such as ear tugging, irritability, and decreased appetite