Publication:

Microbiological pattern in patients with complicated chronic suppurative otitis media requiring surgical intervention

Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella spp, Streptococcus pyogenes, Candida spp and Aspergillus spp were the common pathogens detected in the ear swab of CSOM patients. The aim was to study the microbiological pattern among patients with complicated chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) requiring surgical intervention for CSOM and to assess any particular pathogen influences the complications in CSOM.

Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in the department of ENT of a government tertiary care institute in Tamil Nadu for a period of one year. A total of 67 patients requiring surgical intervention for CSOM were taken as our study sample. The microbiological testing was done for each patient by taking two swabs from the ear discharge. Based on their indication all the patients had underwent either tympanoplasty, myringoplasty or mastoidectomy.

Results P. aeruginosa was found to be the most common microorganism detected in our patients followed by S. aureus and CONS. S. aureus and CONS showed a significant association with atico-antral type of CSOM. Majority of the patients reported with no growth had tubotympanic type of CSOM. in majority of the patients who had reported with no growth their ET (eustachian tube) function was found to be normal whereas patients reported with microorganisms such as Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and CONS most of them had partial dysfunction of ET or complete absence of ET function.

Conclusions Swab culture for CSOM patients to be done at the early stage and treating them appropriately would prevent further complications due to the disease.