Microbiology of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital; Blantyre; Malawi: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

Background.Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is still a significant health problem in developing countries. Therefore; it was pertinent to determine the local Malawian microbiology in order to guide adequate treatment; avoid complications; and provide records for future reference. Aim. The study sought to determine the CSOM-causing microorganisms at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre; Malawi; and establish their relationship signs and symptoms; and with the demographic pattern of the study.Methods.This was a hospital-based cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at the ENT outpatient clinic and the Microbiology Department of Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.The sample comprised 104 patients with unilateral or bilateral active CSOM; who met the inclusion criteria. All patients were evaluated through a detailed history and clinical examination. Pus samples from draining ears were collected by aspiration with a sterile pipette. The specimens were immediately sent for microbiological analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.The study found that Proteus mirabilis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; and Staphylococcus aureus were the most prevalent aerobic bacteria; while Bacteroides spp. and Peptostreptococcus spp. were the commonest anaerobic bacteria causing CSOM. These CSOM-causing microorganisms were predominant among males aged 18 years and below. Some CSOM-causing microorganisms were-significantly more so than the others-characteristically associated with each of the following clinical features: quantity of pus drainage; mode of onset; otalgia; hearing loss; location of tympanic membrane perforation; and mucosal appearance

Mastoiditis at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital; Cape Town; 1999-2003

During the 5-year period 1999 - 2003; we treated 36 children with a clinical diagnosis of mastoiditis. Post-auricular tenderness; swelling or abscess was the presenting feature in all cases. Twenty of these children had acute mastoiditis; 12 had acute-onchronic mastoiditis and 4 had a post-auricular abscess and no signs of mastoiditis on mastoid exploration (pseudomastoiditis). No pathogenic organisms were cultured from 25of cases overall; but among those with positive culture Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were the commonest organisms in the acute mastoiditis group and Proteus mirabilis was the commonest in the acute-on-chronic group. In the acute mastoiditis group (20 patients) only 1 patient was successfully treated with antibiotics; the rest requiring cortical mastoidectomy. In the acute-on-chronic mastoiditis group (12 patients) 9 children had cholesteatoma and underwent an open cavity procedure and the other 3; who underwent cortical mastoidectomy; all had positive histology/culture for tuberculosis

Adult tonsillectomy - are long waiting lists putting patients at risk? : otolaryngology

There is a paucity of data on morbidity associated with long waiting lists for adult tonsillectomy. The aim of this study was to assess the morbidity associated with long waiting lists for adult tonsillectomy in a developing world setting. Of 350 patients on the waiting list at Groote Schuur Hospital for 18 months or more; only 55 were contactable. This low yield (15.7) from the telephonic survey highlighted the difficulty of managing long waiting lists efficiently in a developing world setting. As only 1/55 patients on the waiting list had a complication (quinsy); it appears to be safe to delay tonsillectomy in adult patients. Only half of patients ultimately required tonsillectomy because of a natural reduction in the number of episodes of tonsillitis with time. In order to avoid unnecessary tonsillectomy we need to find better prognosticators to identify the subgroup of adult patients likely to have continued recurrent tonsillitis