Abstract
The drug resistant bacteria was examined in 417 pediatric patients diagnosed as having severe acute otitis media between January 2011 and December 2012 according to the guideline of diagnosis and management of acute otitis media in children 2009. Drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (DRSP) and ampicillin (ABPC) resistant Haemophilus influenzae were detected in 48% and 77% of the patients, respectively. Examination of the relationship between the age and prevalence of drug resistant bacteria showed a significantly higher prevalence of DRSP in patients younger than 3 years of age as compared with that in those aged 3 years or over, although no such difference was observed for ABPC resistant H. influenzae. The relationship between attendance at a group nursery and the prevalence drug resistant bacteria was examined for patients younger than 3 years of age, and a significantly higher prevalence was detected in the group-nursery group as compared with that in the non-group nursery group, both for DRSP and ABPC resistant H. influenzae. Pediatric patients younger than 3 years of age attending a group nursery and diagnosed as having severe acute otitis media may require a careful selection of antimicrobial agents because of a higher risk of infection with drug resistant bacteria, and they should have careful follow-up.
