“Microbiological Profile and Antimicrobial Sensitivity of Otitis Media with Ear Discharge”

In underdeveloped nations, ear infections pose a risk to public health since they are associated with hearing loss, severe disability and even death. This study is aimed at determining aerobic bacterial agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns among patients. Pus swabs samples from ear discharge were collected and processed for aerobic bacterial culture and susceptibility testing. Out of 100 pus swabs samples processed, 71 swabs (71%) were culture positive. Out of these 71 samples, 20 were polymicrobial and 51 were monomicrobial. The proportion of ear infection was higher in males (58 %) than females (42 %). The frequency of ear infection was more among the patients in the age group of 5 to 18 (49%) and 18 to 60 years (31%). The predominant isolate was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40.84%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (36.61%) and Coagulase-negative staphylococcus aureus (16.90%). Most aminoglycosides and cephalosporins were effective against majority of the bacteria. High degree of resistance was noted against macrolides. Therefore, treatment of otitis media in the study area needs to be guided by antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolates. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52783/jchr.v16.i1.11684