The Antimicrobial Effect of Silver Nanoparticles on some Fungi isolated from Otitis Media

This study involved the inhibitory effect of silver nanoparticles with plant extracts against the fungi isolates from otitis media evaluated. A total of 216 samples were collected from individuals suffering from otitis media with age ranging from 1-70 years, who visited the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Department at Al-Hawija General Hospital between September 2022 and March 2023.The results of culture on Sabouraud dextrose agar media showed microbial infection in otitis media in 114 samples, accounting for 52.77% of the cases. Regarding fungi, Candida spp. was the predominant species, found in 81 samples, representing 37.5%. Plant extracts demonstrated high efficiency in inhibiting fungi. The alcoholic extract of the Callistemon viminalis plant exhibited the highest inhibitory effectiveness with an average inhibition zone diameter of 16.19mm followed by the aqueous extract of the Callistemon viminalis plant with an average inhibition zone diameter of 15.44 mm. Silver nanoparticles showed inhibitory effects on the studied fungal isolates. The silver nanoparticles manufactured from the Callistemon viminalis plant exhibited the highest inhibitory effect with an average inhibition zone diameter of 17.52mm against Candida parapsilosis yeast.