Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media: Bacteriology and Drug Sensitivity Patterns at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center (2004-2005): A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objectives: To identify the bacterial pathogens associated with chronic suppurative otitis media and their antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance   Study Design: Cross-sectional survey   Setting: The study was carried out from July 2004-July 2005 at the outpatient clinic of a government tertiary hospital.   Number of subjects: A total of 32 patients (54 ears) with unilateral or bilateral active chronic suppurative otitis media.   Results: Bacterial pathogens of 54 ear discharge samples from CSOM were studied. Among them, 42 (78%) were pure cultures and 9 (16.7%) were mixed, only 3 (5.6%) of the submitted samples had no growth. There were 42 pure isolates, the most common of which was Staphylococcus aureus 21 (50%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 14 (33.3%). Drug sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus showed that 61.9% were resistant to Penicillin while more than 90% were sensitive to Aminoglycosides and Clindamycin. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to penicillin in 64.3% of cases and Ciprofloxacin was active against pseudomonas in 85.7%.   Conclusion: The most common bacterial pathogens from CSOM include Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Majority of the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to penicillin. Aminoglycosides, macrolides and quinolones were effective against most of the isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.   Keywords: chronic otitis media, perforated tympanic membrane, chronic aural discharge