Taxonomy
Family: Corynebacteriaceae
Genus: Turicella otitidis
Formely: Corynebacterium otitidis

Natural habitats
The habitat of T. otitidis seems to be confined almost exclusively to the ear or adjoining areas, and T otitidis does not appear to form part of the commensal flora at any other anatomical site.

Clinical significance
Its significans in acute or chronic otitis media is controversial.

The true pathogenic status of T. otitidis remains unclear, primely due to underreporting of the coryneform bacteria from many clinical specimens.
These organisms are often dismissed as contaminants by laboratorians and clinicians alike.

Therefore only in the presence of consistent reporting in association with clinical findings can the true pathogenicity of this organism be determined.