Assessment of Bacteriological Pattern and Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Deep Neck Space Abscess

Background: Deep neck abscess is a common clinical entity in developing countries like ours. Despite the widespread use of antibiotics, deep neck infections do not disappear and remain one of the most difficult emergencies encountered in daily clinical practice. The extent and severity of the illness could become life-threatening. Therefore, coping with deep neck abscess remain a challenge to otolaryngologists. This study aimed to analyze the bacteriological pattern and antimicrobial susceptibility in deep neck space abscesses. Material Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study. 50 patients with deep neck space abscesses fulfilling the inclusion and exclusion criteria admitted to the department of ENT Head Neck Surgery, Rangpur Medical College Hospital, Rangpur, from 1st July 2017 to 30th December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Pus from deep neck space abscess was collected by either aspiration or incision and drainage with proper aseptic measure and sent by sterile test tube to microbiology department immediately. Data were collected by detailed history taking and clinical examination investigations with informed written consent and analyzed by SPSS (version 20). Results: In this study most commonly involved deep neck spaces were Submandibular (38%), Peritonsillar (32%), Retropharyngeal (14%), and parapharyngeal (8%) spaces. Streptococcus viridans was the most prominent organism 14 (28%) followed by Klebsiella pneumonia 9(18%) and Staph. aureus 4 (8%). The most effective antibiotic was Ceftriaxone 34(79%) followed by Cefuroxime 30 (70%) and Erythromycin 23(54%). Aerobic organisms were highly sensitive to Cefuroxime (83%) and Ceftriaxone (83%) followed by Erythromycin (48%). Anaerobic organisms were sensitive to Clindamycin (100%), Metronidazole (100%), and Erythromycin (100%) followed by Ceftriaxone (75%). Conclusion: The most frequently isolated organism in deep neck space abscesses were Streptococcus viridans and Staphylococcus aureus and sensitivity results showed the majority of isolates are susceptible to Ceftriaxone and Cefuroxime.