title: Antibiotic sensitivity and spectrum of bacterial isolates in otorhinolaryngological infection: a retrospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the common bacteria of otorhinolaryngological (ORL) infection in three general hospitals in the state of Sarawak, East Malaysia and to determine the antibiotic sensitivity of the common bacteria to update local antibiotic policy.
  
  
  METHODS
  All specimens with positive monoclonal culture, received from inpatient and outpatient Otorhinolaryngology Department in the year 2009 and 2010 were included in the study. Patients' demographics, nature of specimens, bacterial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity were analysed by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total 244 positive monoclonal cultures were identified. Staphylococcus species and Gram negative bacilli were the commonest bacteria of ORL infections. Common ORL bacteria remain sensitive to our front line antibiotics. There are a number of multi-drug resistant isolates of MRSA, ESBL Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumanii in the hospital-acquired infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although resistance to antimicrobial agents is growing worldwide, first line antibiotics still show significant therapeutic advantage in our local setting. The low resistance of bacterial isolates in our community reflects judicious use of antibiotics in our routine clinical practices.
authors: University of Malaya, ORL Department, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia. kj_sia@yahoo.com.
authors: K J
authors: KJ
authors: Sia
authors: I P
authors: IP
authors: Tang
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Prepageran
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents