A Bacteriological Study of Cases of Otitis Media in Akungba-Akoko Community, Ondo State Nigeria

Abstract

This study was a six years retrospective review of the routine microbiological, culture and sensitivities of ear swab samples collected from patients that attended the Health Centre of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko for treatments of ear-related infections. Ethical clearance was obtained from the ethical committee of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. Clinical Laboratory records of 63 cases of ear swab samples taken through standard procedures were selected for the study to examine them for spectrum bacterial isolates. Age and gender distribution of cases of infections and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of isolates was studied. Out of 63 samples, 8(12.7%) did not yield bacterial growth, while 55 (87.3%) gave bacterial growth of different species. Staph aureus had the highest occurrence of 50.8%, followed by Pseudomonas spp 28.6% and other Coliforms species has the least. The antibiotics with very good in vitro sensitivity included the Quinolones, Erythromycin, Cefixime, Rifampicin, Streptomycin and Gentamycin. While Augmentin, Nitrofurantoin, Ampiclox, Septrin, Ampicillin, Nalidixic acid, Cloxacillin and Tetracycline did not show remarkable sensitivity pattern among the organisms isolated. The most common bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas spp and the antibiotics identified as having the highest in vitro sensitivity pattern are recommended for first line management of these types of infections where they are indicated, in blind therapy.