Microbiological profile and changing trends of antibiogram profile in patients of chronic suppurative otitis media in a tertiary hospital in NCR region

Introduction: Otitis media (OM) is a major health issue involving mainly middle ear and is quite prevalent in developing countries in the low socioeconomic group. The aim of this study was to isolate the organisms associated with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and to detect the antibiogram of the aerobic isolates. Methods: A total of 150 patients clinically diagnosed with CSOM were enrolled in the study and the samples were obtained from each patient using sterile cotton swabs and cultured for microbial flora. Drug susceptibility testing for aerobic isolates was conducted using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Out of the 119 (79.33%) were culture positive, of which 93 (78.15%) were pure bacterial isolates and 26 (27.95%) were mixed cultures. Bacterial isolates in pure cultures were Staphylococcus aureus in 46 isolates (49.46%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 22(23.6%). Antimicrobial profile of aerobic isolates revealed maximum sensitivity to amikacin (95.5%), ceftriaxone (83.4%) and gentamicin (82.7%). Conclusions: Knowing the etiological agents of CSOM and their antimicrobial susceptibility is of essential importance for an effective treatment, prevention of both complications and development of antibiotic resistance and finally, the reduction of the treatment costs.