Bacteriology of chronic discharging ears in Port Harcourt; Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Objective: The objective of the study was to isolate and identify aerobic bacteria in chronic discharging ears and determine their antibiotic susceptibilities; which is essential for reasonable empiric treatment. Methods: Ear swabs of discharging ears aseptically collected from 102 patients of various age groups attending Ear; Nose; and Throat out-patient clinic at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were cultured for bacterial agents using blood agar; chocolate agar and MacConkey agar. Culture plates were incubated aerobically at 370C for 24 - 48 hours. Isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods. Members of the family enterobacteriaceae were identified using enterotubes. Antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out for 13 drugs using disc diffusion method. Results: Seventy-eight percent of the patients studied were in the age group 0 - 14 years and there were more male infants than females. Gram negative bacteria comprised 75of the isolates. Predominant isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (41); Proteus sp. (22); Staphylococcus aureus (22); Escherichia coli and other coliforms (11). Drug susceptibility profile of the isolates showed that ceftazidime; ceftriazone and gentamycin were most effective drugs in vitro. Conclusion: The predominant bacterial agents in chronic discharging ears in Port Harcourt; Nigeria were gram negative bacteria and included Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Proteus sp.; Escherichia coli. Gram positive bacterial constituted 25 percent of the isolates and included Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus epidermidis and streptococcus sp. Ceftazidime; ceftrixone and gentamycin were the most effective drugs in vitro