Microbiological profile and their antibiotic susceptibility results in patients with ear discharge, our experience at KHMC, Jordan

Abstract EN

Objective: To report the frequency of causative microorganisms in patients with ear discharge and their susceptibility pattern.

Methods:The study was conducted in a retrospective manner during the period from January 2017 to June 2017.A total of 353 specimens were aseptically collected from patients (inpatient and outpatient) with ear discharge.

Specimens were cultured according to the standard microbiological procedures on blood, chocolate, MacConkey’s and Sabouraud dextrose agar.

The clinical isolates were identified using Gram stain, methylene blue stain, manual biochemical reactions and VITEK 2 compact analyzer.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed according to microbiological standards using VITEK 2 compact automated microbiology system.

The results were analyzed using Microsoft excel sheet, windows 7 home premium.

Results: 202 specimens (57.2%) had pure single bacterial or fungal growth, 117 (33.1%) no growth and 34 (9.6%) mixed growth.

Of 202 isolates, 156 (77.2%) were bacteria and 46 (22.8%) were fungi.

Gram negative bacteria showed the highest frequency followed by gram positive bacteria and fungi were the least frequent.The most common microorganisms isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (31.7%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (24.2%), Candida species (12.3%), Aspergillus species (9.4%), and Proteus species (3.9%).Antibiotic used for the susceptibility testing of Gram positive bacteria; Vancomycin, Teicoplanin and Linezolid had the highest susceptibility rate.

Regarding Gram negative bacteria the highest susceptibility rate was for Imipenem, Ceftazidime and Cefotaxime.

Conclusion: The commonest microorganisms isolated from patients with ear discharge were Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, with an increased frequency of methicillin resistant Staph.aureus.

High antimicrobial susceptibility rate was found among most isolated microorganisms.

Ear discharge culture should be requested routinely before starting empirical treatment and waiting for microbiology report