Prevalence of bacterial causes of chronic otitis media with effusion and their drug resistance in Birjand

Chronic otitis media with effusion is a common childhood infection. The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of bacterial causes of chronic otitis media with effusion and their drug resistance in patients with intact tympanic membranes. In this cross-sectional study of 100 patients with chronic otitis media with effusion who underwent myringotomy from October 2011 to September 2013 were selected through census and assessed. First of all، their middle ear secretions were collected and cultured in thioglycollate broth. Then، the isolated bacteria were identified and their drug sensitivity. was evaluated using standard disk diffusion method. Out of 87 samples with positive culture results the most common bacteria isolated were coagulase-negative staphylococci (39%) and streptococcus alpha، beta، and non-hemolytic (24%). A significant association between the type of bacteria isolated from the ear with acute otitis media discharge (P = 0. 003)، affected ears (P = 0. 049) and presence of allergy (P = 0. 029) was observed. Among the antibiotics tested، the highest sensitivity was that of levofloxacin (94. 7%)، clindamycin (84. 9%)، and ciprofloxacin (83. 3%); and the highest resistance belonged to oxacillin (77. 1%)، trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (59. 4%) and cefixime (58. 3%). Based to the obtained results، when the middle ear secretion culture is impossible، administration of the antibiotics clindamycin and ciprofloxacin to the patients is recommended.