Abstract :
Background: Chronic Suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is one of the commonest disease seen in all age groups. It is one
of the leading causes of deafness if treatment is not initiated at early stage. As newer antibiotics are frequently used for the
treatment of CSOM, change in the microbial flora is inevitable. The aim of this study is to know the organisms causing
CSOM and the antibiotics that are effective against these microorganisms. Methods: This study was done in a 500 bedded
tertiary care hospital and patients presenting with history of more than three months of ear discharge were included in the
study. The ear discharge was taken with a sterile swab and sent to the microbiology laboratory for processing. Standard
microbiological procedures were followed for identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing. Results: Our study showed
staphylococcus aureus including methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (47%) as the predominant organism followed
by pseudomonas sp (23%). Staphylococcus aureus was found to be highly sensitive to clindamycin (96%), gentamicin
(85%) and ciprofloxacin (74%). Pseudomonas sp was found to be highly sensitive to imipenem, piperacillin-tazobactam
and ciprofloxacin (90%).Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest organism causing CSOM in our study.
Ampicillin was found to be highly resistant and ciprofloxacin was found to be an effective antibiotic to treat both gram
positive and gram negative infections. Hence we conclude that ciprofloxacin can be used as an empirical antibiotic for
patients with CSOM.
Keyword :
Chronic suppurative otitis media, Ear discharge, Sensitivity, Staphylococcus aureus.