MICROBIAL ETIOLOGY OF CHRONIC SUPPURATIVE OTITIS MEDIA AND ITS ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERN : AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY
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Keywords
Chronic suppurative otitis media; Microbial etiology; Antimicrobial resistance; Antibiotic susceptibility; Ear discharge
Abstract
Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a persistent infection of the middle ear cleft and remains a significant public health problem in developing countries. The disease is associated with preventable hearing loss and serious complications. Increasing antimicrobial resistance among CSOM pathogens has made effective management challenging, necessitating periodic evaluation of microbial etiology and susceptibility patterns.
Objectives: To determine the microbial etiology of chronic suppurative otitis media and to analyze the antimicrobial resistance and susceptibility patterns of the isolated organisms.
Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care center and included 110 patients clinically diagnosed with CSOM. Ear discharge samples were collected under aseptic precautions and subjected to Gram staining and aerobic culture. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and appropriate inferential tests.
Results: The mean age of patients was 28.6 ± 14.2 years, with a male predominance (56.4%). Unilateral disease was observed in 70.9% of cases. Culture positivity was seen in 89.1% of samples. Gram-negative organisms predominated (67.9%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38.4%) was the most common isolate, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (26.8%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed high sensitivity to meropenem (92.9%), polymyxin B (90.5%), and cefoperazone–sulbactam (85.7%), with significant resistance to aminoglycosides. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated 100% sensitivity to linezolid and vancomycin, while penicillin resistance was observed in 76.2% of isolates. MRSA constituted 18.2% of Staphylococcus aureus isolates.
Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were the predominant pathogens in CSOM, with significant antimicrobial resistance observed. Regular surveillance and culture-guided antibiotic therapy are essential for effective management and rational antibiotic use in CSOM.
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Dr Abhinav Verma
Assistant professor Dept of otorhinolaryngology Asmc Fatehpur
Dr Tarun kumar
assistant professor Dept of otorhinolaryngology Asmc fatehpur
Dr Anveksha Sachan
Dept of pathology gsvm medical college Kanpur
