DOI: https://doi.org/10.36347/sajb.2026.v14i07.002

Pages: 496-504

Otitis media is an inflammation or infection of the middle ear. It may be caused by a cold, sore throat, or respiratory infection. This research aims to isolate and identify the types of opportunistic fungi and yeasts that cause this infection. Aspergillus and Candida spp are the most frequently isolated fungi in patients with otomycosis. Fifty samples were collected from patients with otitis media who visited the ENT consulting clinic at Al-Sadder Medical City. In AL-Najaf Governorate during the period from September 2024 to February 2025 for the purpose of isolating opportunistic fungi resulting from otitis media. Their ages ranged between 7-40 years. The results showed that using different methods including direct diagnosis and incubation in the laboratory, the ratio of females to males was as follows: - Females [25] 15 60% and males [25] 10 40%. The results showed that the incidence of otitis media in females was higher than males in the group of patients aged between [21-30] years. The results of this study revealed that the incidence rate in females was higher than males in patients with hypertension, diabetes and cancer, reaching 12 [48%], 9 [36%] and 4 [16%] respectively. It also revealed that the infection rate for males and females, especially in the city, was higher than in the countryside, as the percentage of males reached 18 [72%] in the city and 7 [28%] in the countryside, and females 15 [60%] and 10 [40%] male. It was found that 7 species of opportunistic fungi and yeast belonging to 4 fungal genera were isolated and diagnosed by grown on two different culture media because it the most widely used in various research and cultivation of fungi used for different purposes. with the genus Aspergillus flavus being the most prominent, followed by the genus Aspergillus terreus.