ISOLATION OF BACTERIA FROM THE EXTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL OF CHILDREN AND THEIR SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN TO ANTIBIOTICS

ABSTRACT

The bacterial flora of the external auditory canal of children of Michael Opkara University of Agriculture, Staff School, Umudike, Abia State was investigated. The isolates were obtained using standard bacteriological methods. The media used for the isolation included McConkey agar, nutrient agar, and blood agar. Fifty swabs from the external auditory canal were collected from children under 12years of age, the results revealed that 41 (81%) were positive for bacterial growth while 9(18%) had no growth. The predominant organisms isolated included Staphylococcus aureus (56.1%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (26.83%), Streptococcus pneumoniaea (9.75%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (7.32%). Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that all the isolates were multi-resistant to five or more of the tested antibiotics while the most prevalent organisms namely Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were susceptible to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, penicillin, and ciproflaxin. All the isolates were almost resistant to ampicillin (except Streptococcus pneumoniaea) and pefloxacine.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Table of Content iv

List of Tables v

Abstract vi

Acknowledgement

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction 3

1.2 Significance of Study 3

1.3 Objectives 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literatures Review 5

Predisposing Factors of Otitis External Include 7

2.2 Complications of Otitis External 7

Symptoms of Otits External 8

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods 9

3.1 Sample Collection 9

3.3 Sterilization of Materials 9

3.4 Media Preparation 9

10

3.3 Isolation and Identification of Bacteria 10

3.3.1 Gram Staining Test 11

3.3.2 Catalase Test 11

3.3.3 Coagulase Test 12

3.3.4 Oxidase Test 12

3.3.5 Citrate Utilization Test 13

3.3.6 Methyl-Red Test 13

3.4 Antibiotic Sensitivity Test 13

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Result 15

16

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion 23

References 26

LIST OF TABLES

Table Title Page

1.  Biochemical Characterization of the Isolates. 17

2.  Percentage Frequency Distribution of Isolates 19

3.  Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Isolates 20

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Among the sensory organs, in most vertebrates, the ear is no less essential. Its uncompromising role in auditory perception can become obvious when hearing is impaired.

This stratified region is composed of small bone, cartilages and skin. Each stratum to a certain degree serves as a host to microorganisms. An opening at the pinna leading through to the middle regions account for the influx of microbes into the ear, and consequently its microbial flora. This flora may be normal resident or transitory flora which may either be pathogenic or non-pathogenic with variations occurring at different age range resulting in different microbial flora in infants, school children, and adults (Stroman, et al., 2001).

Children tend to have higher predisposition to ear infection than adults because anatomy of the Eustachian tube in children permits easier access of organisms through the nasopahrynx.

Differences on climate region also presented variations in microbial flora habitation, for example bacteria is associated with most cases of otitis external  in temperate region while   fungi is implicated as causative organism in tropical region.

Excessive wetness, swimming, bathing or increased environmental humidity or dryness (previous infection, dermatoses, or insufficient cerumen and trauma digital or foreign body) make the skin of the external auditory canal vulnerable to infection by endogenous and exogenous microorganisms (Fraise, et al., 2001).

There are also differences in the microbial flora associated with different occupational status of the individuals such as farmers, miners and swimmers (Somekh, et al., 2000). It is well known that organisms potentially pathogenic to the middle ear can be found in the external auditory canal.

Like all skin, the external auditory canal has a normal bacterial flora and remains free of infection unless its defenses are disrupted, when disruption occurs, a new pathogenic flora develops that is dominated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus.

The external auditory canal harbors certain microorganisms (Park, et al., 2010). The external auditory canals normally harbor many bacterial flora of the ear. They are predominantly non- pathogenic and mostly aerobic which include Staphylococci (like Staphylococci auricalris, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus capitis and  occasionally Staphylococcus aureus), Coryneforms (like Turicella otitidis) (Stroman, et al., 2001), alpha hemolytic Streptococcus and some species of Micrococcus (Brooks, et al., 2004).  Coagulase negative Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pnuemoniaea are the most common bacteria isolated from the external auditory canals of healthy people (Kalanter, et al., 2006).

Among the pathogenic microorganisms are the Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter aerogens, Proteus mirabilis and Streptococci as well as negative Bacilli, causing diseases like otitis external as well as the syndrome-necrotizing external otitis due to severe otitis external (Daniel, et al., 2003).

Some of these microorganisms could be susceptible to antibiotic agents while others could be very resistant to certain antibiotic agents as study of the susceptibility of the bacteria to antibiotic agent is inevitable and very useful in the treatment and prevention of infections of the external auditory canal in children.

1.1 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

External auditory canal of children harbors a variety of pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms which is as a result of the normal flora of the ear, continuous exposure of children to environmental hazards, immunocompromised state of health, and malnutrition. Research has it that increase in the microbial population of the normal flora of the ear of children leads to a disease called otitis external which commonly occurs in children.

Therefore study of the external auditory canal of children could be used to suggest ways in which external auditory canal of children could be protected against pathogenic microorganisms and possible antibiotics that can be used to treat any case of infections of the external auditory canal.

1.2 OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study is to assess the bacterial colonization of the external auditory canal of some healthy children and to assess their susceptibility pattern to antibacterial agents.

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