Isolation, Characterization And Identification Of Bacteria Associated With Otitis Media And Their Susceptibility Pattern: A Case Study Of Patients At The Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Abia State:- Okeke, Onyinye H.

ABSTRACT

Eighteen (10 males and 8 females) ear swab samples were collected aseptically from patients presenting with otitis media at Federal Medical Centre Umuahia, Abia state, Nigeria. The swabs were tested by culturing for bacterial pathogens. A total of 29 isolates were o btained. Single and multiple isolates were detected in 13 (72.2%) and 5 (27.8%) respectively. Cultural morphological and biochemical analysis of the samples identified Staphylococcus aureus as the most predominant isolates with a total occurrence of 9 (31.0%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa 6 (20.7%), Haemophilus influenza 5 (17.2%), Streptococcus sp 4 (13.8%), Proteus sp 2 (6.9%), Escherichia coli 2 (6.9%) and Klebsiella sp 1 (3.5%). Susceptibility testing of the isolates using multiple disc diffusion technique against the isolates indicated that gentamicin was the most active against the majority ofthe isolates but they were resistant to ceftriaxone. Otitis media linked with high levels of multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major health concern. There is need for culture and susceptibility test for appropriate antimicrobial therapy of otitis media.