ROCHESTER, N.Y. -- A different bacteria which is causing ear infections in children was identified by researchers at Rochester General Hospital, where they're now working on a new vaccine.
A team of 28 scientists at the hospital's Research Institute studied more than 600 children for 10- years using ear taps to study individual ear bacteria. They found that a specific germ, called H flu, is causing some ear infections.
Current antibiotics like amoxicillin cannot kill some ear infections and the pneumonia vaccine is not always effective in preventing them. This team is now developing a patented vaccine and plans to test it the next year and a half.
After approval from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control, a vaccine to prevent ear infections could be available for children within the next two years.