Bacteriologic evaluation of otitis externa and chronic otitis media

The authors present results of bacteriological examinations in 187 patients with chronic otitis media (OMC) and otitis externa treated in ENT Department, Medical University of Gdańsk in the years 1997-1998. Ear swabs and aspirates were investigated for aerobes and anaerobes 254 bacterial isolates were obtained. Among 150 patients with OMC aerobes were isolated in 130 (86.7%) in 13 (8.5%) mixed aero-anaerobes flore and in 20 (19.3%) no bacterial growth was observed. From patients with COM there were 199 bacterial isolates among them 177 aerobes cultures, 13 anaerobes and 9 fungal. From the external ear canal there were 55 cultures, among them 45 (81.8%) aerobes, 6 (10.9%) mixed aero-anerobes and 4 (7.3%) fungal. The most frequent observed bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis which showed the best susceptibility on ciprofloxacine and amikacine.