Microbiological pattern of ear swabs in chronically discharging ears in a Tertiary Care hospital in India

Raghvendra Singh Gaur*, John Mathew, Ajoy Mathew Varghese, George Ani Mathew, Ramanathan Chandrasekharan, Shalini Anandan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study was to identify the microorganisms associated with the chronic discharging ears and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. To find the pattern in bacteriological flora and their susceptibility patterns in patients from the different parts of India. Settings and Design : Observational, retrospective study. Subjects and Methods : A total of 106 patients with unilateral or bilateral active chronic discharging ears attending the outpatient clinic or in-patients were included in the study. All patients' chart details were reviewed and history, clinical findings and microbiology reports were noted. Results : The microbiology of 106 samples (106 patients) was studied (in bilateral ear disease, information about the side from where the swab was taken, was not available). Among them, 72 (67.92%) grew a single isolate while 34 (32.07%) grew two or more organisms. Major micro-organism isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa 48 (30.96%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus 46 (29.676%), non-fermenting gram negative bacilli (NFGNB) 17 (10.96), Coliforms 22 (14.20%). Drug susceptibility pattern of P. aeruginosa showed that Piperacillin was active against the majority of the isolates 94%, followed by Ceftazidime 83.3%, Amikacin 81.2%, Netilmicin, Tobramycin 60% and Ciprofloxacin, Gentamicin, Aztreonam 62.5%. Most of the S. aureus isolates were susceptible to Oxacillin in 80% and Erythromycin in 43%. Conclusions : Commonest organisms isolated from chronically discharging ears were P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, with P. aeruginosa marginally more than S. aureus. When patients from north and south were segregated, majority of isolates were P. aeruginosa in south (P. aeruginosa 28, S. aureus 23), whereas S. aureus was more in north (23 S. aureus, 20 P. aeruginosa). Coliforms were isolated more in south (13 south, 9 in north), similarly, NFGNB were also more in south (11 south, 6 north). Majority of isolates of P. aeruginosa were susceptible to Piperacillin and S. aureus was susceptible to Oxacillin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)51-54
Number of pages4
JournalIndian Journal of Otology
Volume19
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Bacteriology
  • Chronic otitis media
  • Different parts of India
  • Susceptibility

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Otorhinolaryngology

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