Comparison of culture and multiplex PCR in detection of fastidious bacteria associated with otitis media among suspected patient admitted to Amir-Alam Hospital

Aims and scope: Otitis media (OM) is a common disease among children. Various factors, including bacteria and viruses are the cause of OM. The most common bacterial pathogens that can cause OM are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pyogenes. Recently, Alloiococcus otitidis is known as one of the causes of OM. For some reasons such as fastidious growth and difficulty in sampling, few studies have been completed on this bacterium. The aim of this study was comparison of culture and multiplex PCR in detection of fastidious bacterial pathogens associated with otitis media.
Material & In this descriptive studies, during a period of 5 month from March 2013 to July 2014, 50 middle ear discharge specimens were collected from patients suspected with otitis media in Amir-Alam Hospital. Samples were assessed by culture and multiplex PCR method.
In the study, 3 strains of Alloiococcus otitidis (6%), 3 strains of Haemophilus influenzae (6%) and 1 strain of Moraxella catarrhalis (2%) were isolated by culture. Also, by multiplex PCR method 25 Alloiococcus otitidis (50%), 28 Haemophilus influenzae (56%) and 11 Moraxella catarrhalis (22%) were detected in the samples.
Identifying fastidious bacteria with culture method is difficult, but multiplex PCR method is more accurate, faster and more sensitive of culture method and biochemical tests and can be done quickly.