Abstract
Background: Ear infections are one of the most common causes for hearing loss. Spread of infection from ear causes intracranial and extracranial complications. It is commonly seen in patient having poor socioeconomical condition and patient having recurrent attack of respiratory tract infections. Rational use of antibiotics to treat this infection can lead to multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. Hence, it is necessary to follow antimicrobial stewardship and infection control practices commonly hand hygiene to prevent unnecessary development of resistance to antimicrobial agent and treat ear discharge at an early stage for prevention of complications.

Aims and Objectives: The aim and objectives of this study were to determine the bacteriological profile of ear discharge due to infections, their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and to get prevalence of it among all age group of patients with complaints of ear discharge visiting Dr. N. D. Desai Faculty of Medical Science and Research, Nadiad, Gujarat, during the study period.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was done to analyze the bacteriological profile and prevalence of microorganism and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern isolated from ear discharge samples for a period of 3 years (from January 2020 to December 2022) at Department of Microbiology, Dr. N. D. Desai Faculty of Medical Science and Research, Nadiad, Gujarat. The results of microbiological profile and their susceptibility pattern were tabulated and statistically analyzed.

Results: Of 171 samples of ear discharge enrolled, 149 samples grew pathogen (GPC: 51, GNB: 113 and 15 of them grew 2 pathogens). The microbiological profile of 164 pathogens was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (37.8%), Pseudomonas spp. (22.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (21.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (9.1%), Proteus mirabilis (3%), Klebsiella spp. (2.4%), Escherichia coli (1.2%), Providencia spp. (1.2%), Enterobacter spp. (0.6%), and Enterococcus spp. (0.6%).

Conclusion: Based on this study, it was revealed that the prevalence of P. aeruginosa is more common among all pathogens of ear discharge. It is highly virulent pathogen which exists as environmental commensals in hospitals. Hence, for the prevention of multidrug-resistant bacterial strain, we have to approach with collaboration of antimicrobial stewardship program and infection control practices commonly hand hygiene.

Key words: Ear Discharge; Hearing Loss; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Antimicrobial Stewardship; Hand Hygiene