From 1970 to 1975, 512 patients with chronic otitis media were studied regarding antimicrobial susceptibility of aural discharge.
Bacterial specimens were taken from the middle ear after perforating the tympanic membrane with a sterile cotton stick.
The three-disk method with Petri dishes was used for the antimicrobial susceptibility test.
The results were as follows.
1) Many strains of Staphylococcus aureus were only slightly sensitive to many types of antibiotics, particularly Aminobenzyl Penicillin and Penicillin G. A high sensitivity to Sulbenicillin, Cephaloridine and Gentamicin was noted.
2) Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed good sensitivity to Gentamicin, Sulbenicillin and Colimycin.
3) Proteus mirabilis showed good sensitivity to Aminobenzyl penicillin, Sulbenicillin, Cephaloridine and Gentamicin. On the other hand, many strains of Proteus inconstans showed a low sensitivity to Aminobenzylpenicillin, Cephaloridine and Gentamicin, and good sensitivity to Sulbenicillin.
Thus the first choice antibiotic for chronic otitis media is Cephaloridine.
Patients with chronic otitis media who are being treated for can be prescribed the most effective antibiotic when cultures are done on the aural discharge.
View full abstract