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Microbiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of otitis externa: a changing pattern of antimicrobial resistance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2018

E Heward ,
M Cullen  and
J Hobson
E Heward*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK
M Cullen
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK
J Hobson
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Mr Elliot Heward, Department of Otolaryngology, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK E-mail: elliotheward@doctors.org.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

Otitis externa is a common presentation to secondary care otolaryngology clinics. Despite this, few studies have investigated the microbiology and antimicrobial resistance of otitis externa. This study aimed to examine these issues.

Methods:

Analysis identified 302 swabs taken from 217 patients (100 male, 117 female), between 1 January 2015 and 30 March 2016, at our rapid access otolaryngology clinic.

Results:

In total, 315 organisms were isolated; the most frequent was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (31.1 per cent), followed by candida species (22.9 per cent) and Staphylococcus aureus (11.7 per cent). P aeruginosa was sensitive to ciprofloxacin in 97.7 per cent of cases and to gentamicin in 78.4 per cent.

Conclusion:

Compared with studies worldwide, the relative proportions of different organisms causing otitis externa and the patterns of antimicrobial resistance differ. Increasing resistance of P aeruginosa to aminoglycosides demonstrates a changing pattern of antimicrobial resistance that has not been previously reported. Reassuringly, quinolone antibiotics remain highly effective when treating P aeruginosa.

Keywords

Otitis ExternaMicrobiologyAntimicrobial Drug Resistance
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 4 , April 2018 , pp. 314 - 317
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2018 

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Footnotes

Presented orally at the International Federation of ORL Societies (‘IFOS’) World ENT Congress, 26 June 2017, Paris, France.

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