Bactericidal effects of high‐energy visible light on common otitis media pathogens

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 132; no. 3; pp. 1856 - 1865
• Main Authors: Morgan, Shae D., Yoder‐Himes, Deborah, Jackson, Douglas, Naber, John, Berry, Rachel, Cash, Elizabeth, Chandran, Swapna, Roussel, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-03-2022
• Subjects: Antibiotic resistance; Antibiotics; Bacteria; Dosage; Ear diseases; Energy; Haemophilus influenzae; Humans; Inactivation; Light; Luminous intensity; Middle ear; Moraxella catarrhalis; Otitis media; Otitis Media - microbiology; Otitis Media - therapy; Otitis Media with Effusion - microbiology; Pathogens; Streptococcus infections; Survival
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1111/jam.15366

Aims
This study assessed the use of high‐energy, visible light on the survival rates of three bacteria commonly found in middle ear infections (i.e. otitis media; Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae).
Method and Results
Bacteria were cultured and then subjected to a single, 4‐h treatment of 405 nm wavelength light at two different intensities. All three bacteria species were susceptible to the light at clinically significant rates (>99.9% reduction). Bacteria were susceptible to the high‐energy visible (HEV) light in a dose‐dependent manner (lower survival rates with increased intensity and duration of exposure).
Conclusions
The results suggest that HEV light may provide a non‐surgical, non‐pharmaceutical approach to the therapeutic treatment of otitis media.
Significance an Impact of the Study
Given the growing concerns surrounding antibiotic resistance, this study demonstrates a rapid, alternative method for effective inactivation of bacterial pathogens partly responsible for instances of otitis media.