Bacteriology of otitis media in Ghana

Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Bacterial Aetiologies of Childhood Otitis Media in Accra, Ghana

Background:

Otitis media (OM), also known as middle ear infection, is a clinically significant childhood disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, there is a paucity of contemporary reports on it is bacterial aetiologies and antimicrobial resistance among them.

Aim:

To investigate the OM bacterial aetiologies and their antimicrobial resistance patterns among children visiting the Ear, Nose, and Throat clinics of 3 healthcare facilities in Accra, Ghana – Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital, 37 Military Hospital, and Mamprobi Hospital.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study involved 100 children below 13 years old with suppurative otitis media. Following standard bacteriological methods, sterile ear swabs were used to take middle ear discharges from the study participants for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A standard questionnaire was also used to collect data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results:

The major OM bacterial aetiologies were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (19.8%), Proteus mirabilis (11.5%), and Staphylococcus aureus (10.4%). The majority of the bacteria demonstrated low to moderate resistance (0%-33.3%) to most of the antibiotics. Eight of the bacteria (4 each of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli) were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers; 6 ampicillinase (Amp C)-producing organisms (4 Citrobacter spp. and one each of Morganella morganii and Serratia marcescens) were also identified, and they showed high antibiotic resistance.

Conclusions:

The predominant OM aetiologies were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, and Staphylococcus aureus, and they were generally susceptible to most of the antibiotics tested. Amikacin, cefepime, ciprofloxacin, and meropenem could be valuable in the empirical management of childhood OM.

Bacteriological Profile in Attico-antral type of Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Chronic suppurative otitis media is defined as a chronic inflammation of the middle ear cleft, which presents with recurrent ear discharge through a tympanic membrane perforation. The purpose of this study was to find pattern of bacteriology in patients of atticoantral type of chronic suppurative otitis media as it will help the clinician to decide the effective antibiotics to be prescribed. This prospective and observational study was conducted in the Department of ENT in collaboration with Department of Microbiology, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. The ear discharge specimen of all patients meeting the inclusion criteria were collected and sent for microbial examination. Culture positive samples were subjected to antibiotic sensitivity. A total of one hundred ears (mean age 27.33 years) clinically diagnosed with chronic suppurative otitis media, atticoantral type were included in this study based on the preset inclusion and exclusion. The male: female ratio in our patients was 0.94:1. Ninety-seven (96.9%) patients had unilateral disease, while 3 (3.1%) patients had bilateral disease. Twenty-eight percent of the total samples were sterile. The most common bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27.1%), Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (23.3%) and Proteur mirabilis (6.5%). was sensitive to polymyxin B (100%) followed by ciprofloxacin (46.4%), neomycin (42.9%) and gentamicin (42.9%). Polymyxin B is the most effective antibiotic against the cultured bacteria followed by gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and neomycin.

Aetiological agents of ear discharge: a two year review in a teaching hospital in Ghana

BACKGROUND

The discharging ear is a common presentation in medical practice affecting all age groups but primarily children. This study shows the current aetiological causes of ear discharge and their antibiograms, data which would guide empirical treatment of ear infections, and also form a basis for further research.

METHODOLOGY

This was a retrospective review of laboratory records of all ear swabs submitted for culture over a two year period in the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital Accra, Ghana. Data was obtained on demographic characteristics of patients, clinical diagnosis, isolated organisms and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of the isolated organisms. Data was analyzed by simple descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

A total of 351 ear swabs were received by the laboratory for processing over the two year period. Of these 277(78.9%) had microorganisms isolated. A significant number127 (47%) was obtained from children under five years. Pseudomonas spp was the commonly isolated organism 121(46%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 33(12.5%) and Proteus spp 32(12.2%). Candida was the commonest isolated fungi 9 (69.2%). Susceptibility of Pseudomonas spp to commonly used ototopics (ciprofloxacin & gentamicin) was 93% and 74% respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Most cases of the discharging ear were found in children under the age of five years. The most common bacteriologic cause of the discharging ear was Pseudomonas spp followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Candida species was the commonest fungal cause of ear discharge. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin are effective ototopic antimicrobial agents for empirical treatment of the discharging ear.

Comparison of the effectiveness and safety of cefpodoxime and ciprofloxacin in acute exacerbation of chronic suppurative otitis media: A randomized, open-labeled, phase IV clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effectiveness and safety of cefpodoxime and ciprofloxacin for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of acute exacerbation of chronic suppurative otitis media (AECSOM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult patients diagnosed with AECSOM were screened and patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were randomized to receive either cefpodoxime 200 mg twice daily or ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily orally for 7 days. The primary outcome of this randomized, open-labeled, phase IV clinical trial (Registration Number - CTRI/2011/10/002079) was clinical success rate at day 14 visit and the secondary outcome was incidence of adverse events (AEs). Forty-six patients were enrolled: 23 in the cefpodoxime group and 23 in the ciprofloxacin group.

RESULTS

The clinical success rates were 95.6% in the cefpodoxime group versus 90.9% in the ciprofloxacin group. These rates are comparable, but no statistically significant difference was observed between the groups. Few mild and self-limiting AEs were observed and the tolerability of both the drugs was also good.

CONCLUSION

The results of this randomized, open-labeled phase IV clinical trial showed that a 7-day course of cefpodoxime is therapeutically comparable to ciprofloxacin in terms of both clinical effectiveness and safety for the treatment of patients with AECSOM.

Pattern of bacterial isolates in the middle ear discharge of patients with chronic suppurative otitis media in a tertiary hospital in North central Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Otitis media (OM) is a major health problem in both developed and developing countries.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the pattern of bacterial isolates in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media(CSOM) in Ilorin, Nigeria.

METHODS

A prospective study carried out in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria among consenting patients with CSOM attending the ENT clinic over a period of 7months. Informed consent was obtained from the patients or caregivers and approval for the study obtained from ethical committee. Structured questionnaire was administered and microbiological analysis done, data obtained was entered into SPSS statistical software and results presented in tables and figures.

RESULTS

A total of 134 patients aged 5-64yrs with chronic suppurative otitis media were interviewed with a mean age of 17.0 (S.D. =15.1±1.30). About 55.2% of the respondents were under 10yrs. Seventy-two (53.7%) of the respondents were males with M:F=1.2:1. The gram stain showed predominantly gram negative organisms (71.6%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the commonest middle ear pathogenic organism identified and the sensitivity pattern highly favoured ciprofloxacin

CONCLUSION

CSOM is still a childhood problem among the under tens' more prevalent among males and the commonest agent is Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Ciprofloxacin is still the most sensitive antibiotics in vitro.