RESUMO
To evaluate the effect of diagnostic x-ray in vitro study on bacteria causing chronic suppurative otitis media. The Number of viable cell count pre and post exposure to different doses of radiation was estimated. Ear, nose and throat Dept. in Erbil Military hospital, Microbiology and x-ray unit in general hospital- Mosul Iraq during the period from July 1999 to July 2000. The effect of ionizing radiation [x-ray] has been studied on different strains of bacteria in vitro. The final results showed that there is a statistically significant reduction in the number of viable cell count of certain microorganisms after exposure to a specific dose of radiation in vitro. The single small dose of x-ray radiation [diagnostic x-ray dose] reduced the number of viable cells of certain microorganism in vitro