BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN IN CHILDREN OF OTITIS MEDIA WITH EAR DISCHARGE.

Abstract

Background-Otitis media (OM) is one of the most common childhood infections in pre-school aged children and a major cause of childhood morbidity. OM also represents the most frequent reason for antibiotic prescription in children. It is also the principal cause of childhood hearing loss in India. Objectives- We aimed to study the microbiological prole and their antimicrobial sensitivity pattern in children of otitis media with ear discharge in the tertiary care center in Lucknow and its application in the empirical treatment of otitis media. Methods: The study was conducted from September 2017 to September 2018 on 150 children attending the ENT OPD and Microbiology Department having ear discharge. Ear discharge samples were taken from 150 children (both male and female). Direct gram staining, KOH microscopy, and susceptibility testing were carried out. Results: Among 150 cases, 10 cases were found to be of ASOM, and 140 of CSOM. Predominant organisms were Staphylococcus species (22.67%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.7%), and Escherichia coli (10.7%). . Among Staphylococcus aureus,55% were Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and 45% were Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA). Only 1 Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated among 10 ASOM cases. Staphylococcus species were found to be 100% sensitive to linezolid and vancomycin, 80% to amikacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, 53% to erythromycin, and 46% to clindamycin and levooxacin. 91% isolates of Pseudomonas spp. were susceptible to piperacillin-tazobactam, 80% to cefepime, amikacin, and tobramycin, and 72% to gentamicin. Conclusion: The study of microbial patterns and their antibiotic sensitivity determines the prevalent bacterial organisms causing otitis media in children in the local area and to start empirical treatment of otitis media and its complications for successful outcome, thus to prevent the emergence of resistant strains.