Bacterial Etiology of Otitis Media and Their Antibiotic Resistance in Thi-Qar Province

Abstract

 Otitis media continues to be a major clinical challenge, especially in developing communities with rising bacterial resistance to standard treatments. Despite the clinical importance of the disease, there is still a clear scarcity of new research that has addressed the changing bacterial patterns in Thi-Qar Governorate. Based on the above, the initiative emerged to conduct a study, diagnosis, and evaluation of bacterial isolates from patients with otitis media within Thi-Qar Governorate and to test their antibiotic sensitivity. 110 samples were collected from the E.N.T. unit at Al-Haboub General Hospital and Al-Rifa'a General Hospital and returned to the basic and advanced diagnostic teams, such as Al-Manwal, Vaitk_2, and IPE. The results showed that the largest percentage in the samples was 87% positive for bacterial infection, while 23% were negative for other infections, such as viruses, fungi, and other psychological diseases. The demographic study also showed that the infection among people did not differ reliably according to gender, while on the other hand, the highest rates were recorded among adults at the expense of young people. This is attributed to the environmental, living, and health conditions of adults within this governorate. The microbiological examination showed five common species, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., and Providencia spp. Importantly, P. aeruginosa was identified as a key pathogen with a concerning level of multidrug resistance. The paper emphasizes the importance of evidence-based treatment in the context of antimicrobial resistance, a growing problem, and the importance of accurate laboratory diagnosis in guiding therapeutic decisions.