Aetiologic Agents of Otitis Media in Benin City, Nigeria

Otitis Media continues to be a major presentation in the ear, nose and throat clinic. This study aimed to isolate, characterize and identify the bacteriological and mycological aetiologic agents of otitis media in University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Ear discharge from 569 (299 males and 270 females) patients diagnosed clinically of otitis media between August 2009-August 2010 were processed using standard bacteriological techniques to recover the bacterial and fungal aetiologic agents. Antibiotic Susceptibility test was performed on all bacterial isolate using the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.3%) was the predominant bacteria isolate causing otitis media followed by Staphylococcus aureus (21.0%), Klebsiella sp. (8.9%), Proteus sp. (8.2%), Alkaligenes sp. (4.3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (3.9%), Escherichia coli (3.0%) and Citrobacter freundi (1.7%). Fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger (9.2%), Candida albicans (5.4%), Candida tropicalis (3.0%), Aspergillus flavus (2.1%) and Candida parasilopsis (1.5%). About 413 had a single organism isolated from the middle ear culture while 20 (3.51%) patients had mixed organisms isolated. Infection was highest among 0-5 years and lowest among aged 18-23. Gender did not affect the distribution of pathogens (p>0.05). All bacterial isolates were poorly susceptible to the antibacterial agents. The study uncovers a high frequency of bacteria associated otitis media with the finding of fungi too as a significant aetiologic agent.