Recent trends in bacteriological and antibiogram profile of isolates from ear, nose and throat in a tertiary care hospital in coastal Karnataka

Background: The objectives were to study the bacterial pathogens of ear, nose and throat (ENT), to determine the culture and sensitivity pattern of ENT infections in coastal Karnataka. Methods: A retrospective culture and sensitivity profiling study of 109 samples from September 2018 to September 2019 was done in Department of ENT in KVG Medical College and Hospital. Results: Among the pure growth, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in majority of samples (27.77%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (22.9%). Klebsiella sp ., Acinetobacter sp., Citrobacter , Non enterococcus , Escherichia coli , Proteus sp. and Streptococcus pneumoniae were responsible for remaining samples. Among S. aureus majority was MRSA accounting for 18.51%. P. aeruginosa was most sensitive to amikacin, ceftazidime, meropenem and piperacillin- tazobactam and least sensitive to cotrimoxazole and colistin and most resistant to sparfloxacin, cefaperazone-sulbactam, ceftriaxone-tazobactam and clindamycin. MRSA was most sensitive to gentamicin, amikacin and clindamycin and most resistant to cephalexin, ampicillin and ciprofloxacin. Klebsiella sp . was most sensitive to amikacin and cotrimoxazole and most resistant to sparfloxacin and ceftriaxone . E. coli was most sensitive to gentamicin and cotrimoxazole and most resistant to sparfloxacin. Conclusions: P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and Klebsiella sp . represent majority of culture samples. With ever changing culture & sensitivity pattern and rising antibiotic resistance, a simple step of sending pus samples for the same will help in personalizing the treatment, thereby reducing the disease burden.