Microbiology of chronic suppurative otitis media

The aerobic microbiology of 124 ear swabs from patients suffering from chronic suppurative otitis media was studied using strict microbiological methodology. The predominant organism were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase negative Staphylococcus and Klebsiella spp. 8(6.4%) samples were sterile and total number of isolates were 186. Out of which 71 (57.3%) patients had infection by a single causative organism and 45(36.3%) patients had infection with more than two organisms. 5-10% of Pseudomonas isolates were resistant to even the most recent drugs in market and 27% of Staphylococcus aureus were oxacillin resistant. These findings demonstrate that antibiotic resistant microorganisms are increasing in cases of CSOM warranting judicious use of antimicrobial therapy.