Bacterial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in chronic suppurative otitis media at the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to determine bacterial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of chronic suppurative otitis media in the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. RESULT: Sixty-two ear swabs were collected and 74 bacterial isolates were identified, of which 48 (77.4%) sample with mono-microbial growth, 11 (17.8%) with polymicrobial growth and the remaining 3 (4.8%) show no growth. The most common isolates were Proteus mirabilis 16 (21.6%), followed by S. aureus 12 (16.2%), Klebsiella spp. 10 (13.5%) and Providencia spp. 11 (14.9%). Proteus mirabilis was 100% susceptible to norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin while 87.5% of the isolates were susceptible to cefixime and gentamicin. S. aureus was 83.3% susceptible to gentamicin and clarithromycin, while 75% of the isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and chloramphenicol, however, 66.7% the isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and erythromycin. The overall prevalence of multidrug resistance in the current study was 35 (47.3%). In this study P. mirabilis, S. aureus, Providencia spp., and Klebsiella spp. were the most common bacterial isolate and all Gram negative isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin. Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, gentamicin, chloramphenicol, clarithromycin and tobramycin were relatively effective against Gram positive bacteria.