2024 Insights: Bacteriological Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Active Tubotympanic Chronic Otitis Media

Materials a n d MethodsThe study was conducted in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at RajaRajeswari Medical College and Hospital.The study involved patients with tubotympanic COM who attended the ENT outpatient department over an 18-month period (August 2022 to December 2023). MethodologyPatients meeting the inclusion criteria and willing to participate were selected after obtaining informed consent.Detailed history and clinical examination were conducted.Samples were collected using two sterile swabs from the external auditory canal and sent to the microbiology lab for Gram staining, aerobic bacterial culture, introduction Chronic otitis media (COM) is a middle ear inflammation that causes permanent changes in the tympanic membrane, including perforation and tympanosclerosis, retraction pocket development, or cholesteatoma. 1 COM has two types: tubotympanic (mucosal) and atticoantral (squamosal).Tubotympanic disease involves pars tensa perforation, while atticoantral disease affects the attic region with squamous epithelium ingrowth.Globally, COM affects 65-330 million people, with 60% experiencing hearing impairment. 2 Prevalence in Southeast Asia is 5.2%. 3in the general populations. 3India is among the highest (>4%) prevalence group.In India, the overall prevalence is 46 and 16 per 1000 in rural and urban populations, respectively, and the incidence of COM in India was found to be 7.8%. 4here are many predisposing factors to develop COM such as infection of tonsils, adenoids, nasal and sinus disease, deviated nasal septum, allergic rhinitis, low socioeconomic status, size of mastoid air cells, genetic determination, and infection of middle ear. 5 Mucosal COM is associated with a central perforation of the tympanic membrane without any granulation or cholesteatoma. 4t is generally a self-limiting disease, with the incidence of serious complications decreasing with the advent of antimicrobial therapy.In spite of this, the mainstay of therapy in COM remains surgery, which aims at restoring the hearing mechanism, eradication of disease, and prevention of recurrence. aiMs a n d objectives To isolate the aerobic bacterial flora in patients with active tubotympanic disease. To detect antibiotic sensitivity of isolated organisms.