Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of bacteria causing otitis media among children <5years attending outpatient department in Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, Eastern Uganda

Abstract

Otitis media is a major health problem of children in low income countries including Uganda. According to the January-March 2015 records at Mbale Regional Referral Hospital Outpatient department, an average of 78 children are diagnosed with this condition. Due to advent of newer antimicrobial agents, the microbiological flora is changing constantly. This cross-sectional descriptive study carried out from March to June was aimed at identifying the occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of bacteria causing Otitis Media among children below five years attending outpatient department, Mbale regional referral hospital. 100 (50 males and 50 females) ear swab samples were collected asceptically from patients presenting with clinical picture of otitis media and cultured for bacterial pathogens. A total of 94 isolates were obtained, single species and multiple species isolates were detected in 74(78.7%) and 20(21.3%) respectively. Cultural, morphological and biochemical analysis of the culture growth identified Staphylococcus aureus as the most predominant 34.04 (32/94) isolates followed by Streptococcus species 21.27%(20/94), Haemophitus influenza 18.09%(17/94), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12.77%(12/94%), Escherichia coli 9.57%(9/94) and Klebsiella sp 4.26%(4/94). Susceptibility testing of the isolates using multiple disc diffusion technique against the isolates indicated that Ceftazidine and Ciprofloxacin were the most active against the majority of the isolates but more resistance was recorded with erythromycin and tetracycline. Otitis media linked with high level of multiple antibiotic resistance bacteria is a major health concern. There is need for culture and susceptibility test for appropriate antimicrobial therapy of Otitis media.