Isolation and Antibiogram of Some Bacterial Isolates from Patients with Ear Infection in a Tertiary Health Care Facility at Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Oct 12, 2026

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Ear infection is a common global health concern with shifting causative bacterial agents, requiring continuous surveillance. This prospective study evaluated 43 patients diagnosed with ear infection at the ENT clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Specimens were collected and isolated bacteria underwent antimicrobial susceptibility testing against selected antibiotics. Patients aged 16–25 years were most affected. Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas were predominant, and azithromycin showed high susceptibility among isolates.

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Abstract

Introduction

Materials and Method

Study Area

Specimen Collection

Study Design

Ethical Considerations

Isolation and Antibiogram of some Bacterial Isolates from Patients with Ear Infection in a Tertiary Health Care Facility at Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria Upe Francisca Babaiwa and *Cyprian Osilama Ikolah Department of Pharmceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Email: [ikolahcyprian@gmail.com](ikolahcyprian@gmail.com) Abstract Ear infection has been reported as a common health concern globally, impacting individuals across diverse demographic factors. Causative bacterial agents of this infection are constantly changing and require continuous surveillance to monitor emerging trends. This study investigated the bacterialetiologic agents and their susceptibility patterns among patients with ear infection at the study Centre. A total of 43 patients who visited the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital that were diagnosed with ear infection were evaluated. Patient data and specimen were collected after which isolated bacteria were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing against some antibiotics (Sparfloxacin, Azythromycin Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and amoxicillin) using standard methods. Results obtained showed that patients aged 16-25 years were more predisposed to ear infection and substantial number of them (60.5%) reported previous history of the infection. Staphylococcus (48.70%) and Pseudomonas (26.30%) were the most predominant bacterial isolated from these patients. Other isolates included; Bacillus (14.5%), Corynebacterium (3.90%), Enterobacterium (1.30%), and Klebsiella (3.9%) . Antibiogram revealed that 78.9% of the isolates were susceptible to the killing effects of Azithromycin and only 39.3% were susceptible to amoxicillin. However. 69.8% of isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination therapy. Conclusively, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, were the leading cause of ear infection at the study center. Azithromycin as well as amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination were the most effective antibiotics against the encountered bacterial isolates and these antibiotics can be used as a first line drug in the management of ear infection at the study. Keywords: Antibiogram, bacteria, ear, infections, susceptibility. INTRODUCTION An ear infection can affect different parts of the ear, leading to symptoms such as inflammation or irritation in the inner ear, swollen and blocked Eustachian tubes, and mucus build-up in the middle ear. Additionally, bacterial infections can cause inflammation of the external auditory canal, resulting in acute pain and discomfort. Globally, more than 360 million people suffer from disabling hearing loss, with infections accounting for up to 40% of preventable cases. Documented predisposing factors to ear infection include gender, economic status, and poor hygiene, smoking and bathing in rivers (Alenezi et al., 2017) . In many low-and middle-income countries, ear infections are primarily caused by a wide array of bacteria and fungi (Shangali et al., 2023) . Treatment in these regions often relies on empirical treatment methods without laboratory investigation or antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), leading to treatment failures and recurrent infections. Additionally, this practice can result in the need for more expensive antibiotics, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs, impacting the financial burden and quality of life for families (Getaneh et al., 2021) . In poor countries like Nigeria, where there is limited resources, the cost of carrying out antimicrobial susceptibility test prior to prescribing antibiotics is a major concern. Thus empirical therapy is the most employed therapeutic approach with little or no data available on the effectiveness of this treatments approach. Clinic observations suggest that many patients return with recurring infections, indicating that empirical methods alone may be insu

FAQs

How many patients were evaluated in the study?

A total of 43 patients diagnosed with ear infection were evaluated at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital ENT clinic.

Which bacterial species were the most predominant isolates?

Staphylococcus (48.70%) and Pseudomonas (26.30%) were the most predominant bacterial isolates.

Which antibiotics showed the strongest susceptibility results?

Azithromycin had the highest susceptibility rate among isolates, while the amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination also showed strong susceptibility (69.8%).

Oct 12, 2026

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