title: Etiologic agents of otitis media in Benin city, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Otitis Media continues to be a major presentation in the ear, nose and throat clinic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to isolate, characterize and identify the bacteriological and mycological etiologic agents of otitis media in Benin city.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ear discharge from 569 (299 males and 270 females) patients diagnosed clinically of otitis media between August 2009 and August 2010 were processed to recover the bacterial and fungal etiologic agents. Susceptibility test was performed on all bacterial isolate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pseudomonas aeruginosa (28.3%) was the predominant bacteria isolate causing otitis media followed by Staphylococcus aureus (21.0%), Klebsiella sp (8.9%), Proteus sp (8.2%), Alkaligenes spp (4.3%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (3.9%), Escherichia coli (3.0%) and Citrobacter freundi (1.7%). Fungi isolated were Aspergillus niger (9.2%), Candida albicans (5.4%), Candida tropicalis (3.0%), Aspergillus flavus (2.1%) and Candida parasilopsis (1.5%). 413 had a single organism isolated from the middle ear culture while twenty (3.51%) patients had mixed organisms isolated. Infection was highest among 0 - 5 years, and lowest among aged 18 - 23. All bacterial isolates were poorly susceptible to the antibacterial agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study uncovers a high frequency of bacteria associated otitis media with the finding of fungi too as a significant etiologic agent.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin City, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Favour
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Osazuwa
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osazuwa
authors.forename: Clement
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osime
authors.forename: Esohe Amanda
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Igharo
authors.forename: Paul Erhumwunse
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Imade
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lofor
authors.forename: Moses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Momoh
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omoregie
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dirisu