Bacteriological examination of the middle ear of school-aged children

Abstract

Objective: To examine the middle ear of school children aged between 2-6 years attending both nursery and primary schools to see whether the bacteria associated with otitis medical can be isolated from their ears even without showing symptoms.


Setting: University Demonstration Primary School, UNIZIK, Awka, Akpenyi Memorial Nursery and Primary School, Awka.

Method: The bacteriological investigations were done using samples collected from the middle ears of children aged between 2-6yrs. Sample were collected using sterile swab sticks according to standard methods.

Results: Out of 47 chlidren (24 boys and 23 girls), there were 30 whom bacteria responsible for otitis media were found. The commonest bacterium isolated was streptococcus pneumonia (50.0%) followed by Haemophilus influenza (16.7%). Others were Moraxella catarrhalis (10%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa(10%) Proteus mirabilis (6.7%), Esherichia coli (3.3%), Stapphyococcus aureus (3.3%).

Conclusion: Gram–negative bacteria had the highest prevalence and were the commonest organisms from the middle ears of the children.

Keywords: bacteriological examination, middle ear, school-aged children

Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol. 9(1) 2005: 1-4