Abstract

Ear infection (otitis media) is a common clinical problem throughout the world and a major cause of preventable hearing loss in the developing world. Antibiotic resistance is increasingly a health threat to human and as such need immediate action to combat its spread. The aim of this study is to determine the antibiotic resistance and susceptibility profiles of isolated bacteria from suspected individual with ear infection in Wukari LGA. A total of forty nine (49) ear discharge specimens were collected using sterilized swab sticks from each patent suspected to be suffering from ear infection. It was carried out by means of random-sampling among individual in Wukari. Results show a strong association (p<0.05) between age and sex at risk of acquiring otitis media. The finding predominant bacterial isolates were; Bacillus subtilis (20.29%). Followed by Paenibacillus alvei with (24.64%) and Staphylococcus aureus with (20.29%). Most of the isolated pathogenic bacteria showed the highest antibiotic resistance to Ampiclox, Rocephin, Amoxicillin and Ciprofloxacin. On the other hand, almost all the isolated pathogenic bacterial species were significantly, Gentamycin, Pefloxacin, Streptomycin and Erythromycin were seen to be highly effective against the two leading bacteria associated with ear infection. Septrin and Erythromycin were seen to be highly effective against all the three leading pathogenic microorganisms identified in this study. Septrin, Streptomycin, Pefloxacin, Gentamycin and E rythromycin can therefore be used for treatment of ear infection in the study area. Since almost all the isolates bacteria showed a considerable level of resistance to more than one antibiotic that are commonly used in primary health care centre, this indicated that the isolates were multi-drug-resistant (MDR), for a successful patient management and prevention of the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, treating bacterial ear infections in the study should be done base on culture and antibiotic sensitivity test result.