We analyzed the frequency of sOP within and between families and the nasopharyngeal (NP) otopathogen colonization patterns within and between families.
The presence of sOP siblings significantly predicted that additional children in the same family would likewise become sOP, with an odds ratio of 3.7 (95% CI 0.77–15.2, 95% lower bound 0.95). We further present evidence for an environmental contribution to this effect by means of prolonged exposure to otopathogens within family units.
sOP children have a significant familial association. The tendency of siblings to share similar patterns of microbial NP colonization contributes to this association. Further research is necessary to determine whether and to what extent genetics are involved.