Prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> in middle ear fluids of chronic suppurative otitis media and chronic rhinosinusitis patients undergoing ear surgery

Background: Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) and Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) are strongly associated common diseases with a significant impact on people’s quality of life worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 65 to 330 million people are affected with CSOM, and about 30-40 million people globally, are affected with chronic rhinosinusitis as per National Center for Health Statistics. In India, the prevalence of CSOM is reported to be as 7.8%, which indicates an utmost attention for management of disease. Chronic eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) coupled with a nasopharyngeal reservoir of pathogens involved with chronic rhinosinusitis can result in histologic changes in the middle ear leading to otitis media. Emergence of antimicrobial resistance of the causative microbes further poses problem in management of the disease. Aim: The present study aimed to find the microbial prevalence and compare the antibiotic sensitivity in middle ear fluid isolates of CSOM and CRS patients with CSOM in South Indian population. Conclusions: The antibiotic sensitivity of the common causative microbes differed significantly between CSOM and CRS with CSOM subjects in South Indian Population. The present study warrants the need for evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the causative microbial pathogens before administration of antibiotics to treat CRS with CSOM in particular.