Effects of septoplasty on the nasal flora

Background: Disruption in the balance of the nasal flora influences infectious diseases of the nose. We characterized the changes in nasal flora of the middle meatus of patients with a symptomatic deviated nasal septum before and after septoplasty. Methods: The study cohort included 33 patients with symptomatic deviated nasal septum who underwent septoplasty from 1998 to 2001. Cultures from the middle meatus were taken preoperatively and 1 month postoperatively. Results: Fifty-two percent of the preoperative cultures and 76% of the postoperative cultures were positive. The preoperatively cultured bacteria were similar to those usually cultured from the nose of a healthy individual - mainly Staphylococcus aureus and Corynebacterium. The postoperative cultures included bacteria not considered as being nasal flora and infrequently cultured from the nose: Pseudomonas, Haemophilus influenza, and Staphylococcus coagulase negative. Conclusion: Symptomatic septal deviation does not influence nasal flora. The bacterial changes without clinical complaints that we found postseptoplasty might call for a more in-depth workup.