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Otolaryngology

News Flash!—SARS-CoV-2 Isolated From the Middle Ear and Mastoid

Educational Objective
To understand the implications of COVID-19 being isolated in the Middle Ear and Mastoid

1 Credit CME

JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery

Published Online: July 23, 2020

Invited Commentary

Article Information and Disclosures

Bradley W. Kesser, MD¹

Author Affiliations

¹University of Virginia Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Charlottesville

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Otolaryngologists (especially otologists and/or neurotologists) around the globe have been waiting 6 months for this study.¹ Given the anatomic connection from the nasopharynx, site of initial infection and virus isolation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to the tympanic cavity through the eustachian tube, could the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the current global pandemic gain access to the middle ear space and mastoid cavity, and thus put health care workers at additional risk of contracting the virus?

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Article Information

Corresponding author: Bradley W. Kesser, MD, University of Virginia Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Charlottesville, VA 22903 (bwk2n@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu).

Published Online: July 23, 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.2067

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

References

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Pitkäranta A , Jero J , Arruda E , Virolainen A , Hayden FG . Polymerase chain reaction-based detection of rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and coronavirus in otitis media with effusion. J Pediatr. 1998;133(3):390-394. doi:10.1016/S0022-3476(98)70276-8 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

CDC. Real-Time RT-PCR Panel for Detection 2019-Novel Coronavirus Centers for Disease Control. Centers for Disease Control. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/uscdcrt-pcr-panel-for-detection-instructions.pdf?sfvrsn=3aa07934_2. Accessed June 14, 2020.

Workman AD , Welling DB , Carter BS , et al. Endonasal instrumentation and aerosolization risk in the era of COVID-19: simulation, literature review, and proposed mitigation strategies. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. Published online April 3, 2020. doi:10.1002/alr.22577 PubMed Google Scholar

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Lammers MJW , Lea J , Westerberg BD . Guidance for otolaryngology health care workers performing aerosol generating medical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;49(1):36. doi:10.1186/s40463-020-00429-2 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Saadi RA , Bann DV , Patel VA , Goldenberg D , May J , Isildak H . A commentary on safety precautions for otologic surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;162(6):797-799. doi:10.1177/0194599820919741 PubMed Google Scholar Crossref

Chen JX , Workman AD , Chari DA , et al. Demonstration and mitigation of aerosol and particle dispersion during mastoidectomy relevant to the COVID-19 era. Otol Neurotol. 2020. doi:10.1097/MAO.0000000000002765 PubMed Google Scholar

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AMA CME Accreditation Information

Credit Designation Statement: The American Medical Association designates this Journal-based CME activity activity for a maximum of 1.00  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to:

1.00 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;;
1.00 Self-Assessment points in the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery’s (ABOHNS) Continuing Certification program;
1.00 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;
1.00 Lifelong Learning points in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) Continuing Certification program; and
1.00 CME points in the American Board of Surgery’s (ABS) Continuing Certification program

It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.