To determine the bacterial etiology of otitis media and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles among children in Gaza Strip.
A cross-sectional prospective study was performed in ENT clinics in Gaza Strip from October 2012 to June 2013. A total of 120 ear samples collected from children up to 15 years were cultured according to the standard microbiological procedures. Isolates were identified by conventional methods and the antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined by the standard disk diffusion method.
Bacterial isolates included Pseudomonas aeruginosa (32.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (23.3%), Proteus spp. (20%) and Streptococcus spp. (9.2%). The Gram positive bacteria antibiogram revealed high sensitivity to ceftriaxone (∼90%) and cefaclore (∼90–100%). While Gram negative bacteria antibiogram reveals they were sensitive to ciprofloxacin (100%), gentamycin (90–100%), and ceftriaxone (100%) except for P. aeruginosa that showed resistance to many antimicrobial agents by means of multiple drug resistance (MDR).
Low levels of resistance were found among most clinical isolates in general to the commonly used antibiotics, however, an increased frequency of MRSA was detected. Public awareness should be promoted to reduce risk factors associated with otitis media and empirical treatment protocols should be reviewed.