Aerobic Bacterial and fungal profile with antimicrobial susceptibility in patients of CSOM attending tertiary care hospital

Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is a long standing infection of a part or whole of the middle ear cleft characterized by ear discharge & various complications if not treated especially in developing countries with low socio-economic society because of malnutrition, overcrowding, poor hygiene and inadequate health care & laboratory facilities. Study was conducted to identify the common isolates from patients diagnosed with CSOM at tertiary centre in central India and to determine the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of these bacterial isolates to commonly used antimicrobials.

A total of 157 patients were enrolled after IEC approval and processed for isolation of bacterial and fungal isolates using standard microbiological tests with sensitivity pattern. Data was compiles and statistical analysis was performed by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software-16 and MS Microsoft Excel 2007. A total of 151(96.18%) samples were culture positive. Bacterial cultures were obtained in 84.71% of the cases whereas polymicrobial growth (aerobic bacteria + fungi) were seen in 11.47% cases. The bacterial isolates were mostly sensitive to commonly used antimicrobials like 3^rd generation cephalosporins, Amoxycillin+Clavulanic acid, Amikacin & Ciprofloxacin and multi drug resistant organisms were not observed. More than 90% of the yeasts were sensitive to commonly used antifungal agents.

Evidence based judicial treatment & appropriate use of antimicrobials in an environment where antibiotics are commonly abused will ensure & will reduce the resistance to antimicrobials and the cost of treatment.