MRSA IN CHRONIC SUPPURATIVE OTITIS MEDIA

Background - Otitis Media (OM) is a global middle ear disease with health economic burden, especially in developing nations where the disease prevalence could be as high as 11% with severe economic implications.Globally, each year approximately 21 thousand people i.e. 33 per 10 million people die due to the complications of OM. Identification and management becomes of utmost importance as it is the leading cause of preventable hearing loss. Amongst the types of OM,Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) is characterised by irreversible inflammatory changes in the middle ear cavity and mastoid process.

The aim of this study was to identify MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) isolates (comparing three phenotypic methods) from ear discharge in otolaryngology outpatients with chronic otitis media and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern.

Results showed that 19.7% isolates were of S.aureus, out of which 17.7 (11/62) were MRSA isolates. The emergence of antibiotic resistance in humans is primarily due to excessive and often unnecessary use of antibiotics, lapses in hygiene and poor infection control practices. With the advent of MRSA, the management of CSOM is further prolonged. To add to the misery, it has been observed that MRSA isolates are more resistant to another group of antimicrobials as compared to the methicillin sensitive isolates.