Chronic suppurative otitis media: disease pattern and drug sensitivity

ABSTRACT

To identify the frequency of bacterial isolates associated with chronic suppurative otitis media [CSOM] and to determine their antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Descriptive study. Department of E.N.T, Jinnah Medical and Dental College Hospital, Korangi Karachi, from April 2003 to June 2005. Two hundred patients of CSOM were included in this study. Ear swabs were taken from these patients and cultured on chocolate and blood agar. Antibiotic sensitivity was determined by disc diffusion method using Muller Hinton agar. Biochemical tests were used in identifying gram-negative bacteria. From 200 ear swabs different micro-organisms were isolated. The bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 83 cases, Staphylococcus aureus in 38 patients, Proteus mirabilis in 36, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 21, Escherichia coli in 8, beta haemolytic Streptococcus in 10 and Serratia species in 4 patients. Most of the bacterial isolates were resistant to common antibiotics but they were sensitive to ofloxocin [92.2%], ciprofloxocin [92.2%], amikacin [90%], gentamycin [88.4%], ceftazidime [86.4], ceftriaxone [70.4%], polymyxin B [70%], amoxicillin clav.[40%], ampicillin [10%], cephradine [10%] erythromycin [6%].In CSOM, high rate of multiple drug resistance specially to frequently used antibiotics has risen