DOI: 10.36347/sajp.2021.v10i04.004

Pages: 77-81

Aim: To demonstrate the prevalence of bacterial pathogens and it’s antibiotic sensitivity in children (0-18years) with acute otitis media (AOM) at tertiary care teaching hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of 108 patient’s ear discharge samples with acute otitis media at department of Microbiology, Sri Venkateswara Medical College, during the period January 2018 to December 2018. The specimens / swabs were cultured using aerobic microbiological techniques and Antimicrobial susceptibility pattern to different agents was carried out with the disc diffusion method according to the criteria of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Results: Cultures from AOM samples/swabs revealed Staphylococcus aureus (58) was the most frequently identified pathogen in children below 6 years. Out of 58, 12 isolates were Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Pseudomonas aeruginosae was the second most frequently identified pathogen. In our study, most of the Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to Penicillins and first generation cephalosporins; Pseudomonas aeruginosae to fluoroquinolones. Conclusion: The study also reveals that there are differences in the pathogens isolated and their antibacterial susceptibility patterns from different regions. Hence, it is the need of the hour to have a study at the regional level to know the common pathogens causing acute otitis media (AOM) and their susceptibility pattern for an efficient treatment, prevention of both complications and development of antibiotic resistance and finally, the reduction of the treatment costs.