Bacterial otitis media in all age group of patients seen at Dessie referral hospital, North East Ethiopia

Background: Otitis media is the main cause of deafness and hearing impairment and the most common reason for children to visit a medical practitioner. Objective: Determination of bacterial etiology of otitis media and its susceptibility to drugs. Methodology: A cross sectional study conducted on 191 otitis media patients seen in the Dessie referral hospital, November 2009-2010. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Pus from discharging ears was taken and processed for bacterial culture and susceptibility testing using standard bacteriological techniques. Results: Participants age range was 3/12-70. years. Majority (83.2%) of them were identified as chronic otitis media. The frequency of otitis media below 15. years was 45.0%. Of 207 isolates, Proteus spp was the leading one, 48 (23.2%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 44 (21.3%). Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, and Klebsiella spp were 100% resistant to Amoxicillin. Almost all isolated bacteria became resistant to two or more antimicrobials. Conclusion: Children aged less than 15. years were the most affected groups. Proteus spp, S. aureus, and Pseudomonas spp were the major isolated bacteria. Gentamycin and Ciprofloxacin were relatively effective antibiotics. However, all isolates showed multi drug resistance indicating the presence of strong selective pressures so that empirical treatment needs to be discouraged.