Introduction: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a middle ear inflammation characterised by discharging the ear for at least a month due to tympanic membrane rupture or involvement of the attic or antral parts. The inflammation is caused by the underlying infection, which causes the mucosa of the middle ear to become irritated, resulting in discharge and tympanic membrane disease.
Aim: To study the microbial flora from ear discharge in mucosal and squamosal chronic suppurative otitis media.
Materials and Methods: This study comprised 100 ears with mucosal or squamosal CSOM. Aural suctioning/cleaning using a bull's eye lamp was performed on patients who presented to the OPD with a discharging ear. Following cleansing the external auditory canal, a sterile aural speculum was inserted into the EAC to create a sterile conduit. Afterwards, sterile cotton swabs were used to capture middle ear fluid or discharge surrounding the tympanic membrane, which was then sent to the laboratory for bacteriological testing within 30 minutes.
Results: Out of the 100 ear swabs, 6 had no growth, whereas Pseudomonas aeroginosa was most commonly isolated (36 swabs) in 22 swabs of squamosal CSOM and 72 swabs of mucosal CSOM, followed by Proteus mirabilis (23 swabs) in squamosal and mucosal CSOM.
Conclusion: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the commonest bacteria isolated in mucosal CSOM and also for squamosal CSOM
Key words: Mucosal, Squamosal, chronic otitis media, Swabs, culture tests, ear discharge, ear swabs
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