Bacterial Profile and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns of Chronic Otitis Media at a Tertiary Care Center in Maharashtra

Background Chronic otitis media (COM) is a persistent inflammatory condition of the middle ear and mastoid cavity, characterized by otorrhea and a perforated tympanic membrane. The microbial agents associated with COM vary over time and by geographic location. According to the WHO classification of countries based on COM prevalence, India is classified as having the highest prevalence (>4%) due to a national average of 7.8%, with the majority of the burden affecting individuals in lower socioeconomic strata. Objectives The objective of this study is to analyze the bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of isolates in patients with COM and to examine the age and gender distribution of these patients. Methods A cross-sectional microbiological study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College, Hospital & Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune (Deemed to be University), Pune, India, from January 2023 to March 2023. The sample size was determined using WinPepi software. A total of 30 samples were collected from patients aged 5-15 years with active COM who presented to the ENT OPD. Patients who had been treated with antibiotics in the 15 days prior to the study were excluded. Results Of the 30 patients, most were in the age groups of 16-25 years (36.67%) and 26-35 years (16.67%), with only 10% in the 5-15 years age group. The age range of participants was eight to 55 years, with a mean age of 27 years. There was a gender disparity in the distribution of COM, with males representing 56.67% and females 43.33%, resulting in a male-to-female ratio of 1.3:1. The majority of patients had mucosal COM (24/30, 80%), while the remaining had squamosal COM (6/30, 20%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in 24 samples (80%), and Staphylococcus aureus was identified in six samples (20%). Conclusion In the Indian context, where many predisposing factors for COM are prevalent, the disease remains highly common and can lead to severe complications if not treated promptly. This study analyzed ear swabs from 30 patients diagnosed with COM. The results revealed that P. aeruginosa was the most common microorganism, followed by S. aureus. The most effective antibiotics against P. aeruginosa were piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, and meropenem. For S. aureus, the most effective antibiotics included teicoplanin, vancomycin, linezolid, and cotrimoxazole.