Microbiology of chronic suppurative otitis media: Experience at Dera Ismail Khan

Abstract

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media is a common infectious disease. The micro-organisms commonly associated with it and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern is important for its treatment. This study was conducted to identify the common microorganisms involved and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media.

Material & Methods: This descriptive study was carried out from January 2011 to August 2011 at Department of ENT, DHQ Teaching Hospital and Microbiology Department, CMH, D.I.Khan. A total of 190 patients with unilateral or bilateral active chronic suppurative otitis media attending the out patient clinic were included in the study. Pus samples were collected from the discharging ears and sent for microbiology.

Results: From 190 specimens, 174(91.6%) were positive, and 16(8.4%) culture negative. There were 167(87.9%) bacterial isolates and 7(3.7%) fungi. Pseudomonas aeruginosa 80(45.9%) was the dominant isolate, followed by Staphylococcus aureus 46(26.4%) including 10 isolates of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed that piperacillin/tazobactum was active against 100% isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and all Staphylococcus aureus except MRSA.

Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common isolate followed by Staphylococcus aureus from the culture specimens of chronic otitis media. Both of these are sensitive to tazocin except MRSA. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is increasingly becoming more resistant to the commonly used antibiotics like quinolones.