Abstract

Otitis media is an inflammation of middle ear caused by bacterial pathogens and its response to antibiotics varied in different populations. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of bacterial organisms and antibiotic sensitivity in otitis media. Samples were taken from 172 patients with otitis media visiting MAA ENT Hospitals, Hyderabad, India. Ear swabs were taken from the discharge/pus of ear and evaluation for the bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern was carried out by gram staining and culture sensitivity tests. Microbial etiology was detected in 66.3% of study cases, of which Staphylococcus aureus infection was the highest (37.2%) compared to Pseudomonas aueroginosa (24.4%), Klebseilla pneumoniae (3.5%) and Cornybacterium diptheriae (1.2%). Further, it was observed that the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus was 58.3% in ASOM and 56.8% in CSOM while Pseudomonas aueroginosa is 33.3% in Acute suppurative otitis media and 37.7% in Chronic suppurative otitis media. Staphylococcus aureus (43.8%) was found to be more in subjects of >40 years while Pseudomonas aueroginosa (42.9%) and Klebseilla pneumonia (66.7%) affected 20-40 years of age group. Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to azithromycin (71.9%) and amoxicillin (65.6%), Pseudomonas aueroginosa showed sensitivity to gentamycin (57.1%) and amikacin (54.8%), and Klebseilla pneumoniae to gentamycin (66.7%). Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aueroginosa contributed significantly for the occurrence of otitis media and the elderly age group was found to be highly affected. The antibiotic sensitivity of the study identified empirical antibiotics that can be used for treatment of otitis media and its associated complications by preventing the onset of resistant pathogens.