Antimicrobial sensitivity, extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production and plasmid profile by microorganisms from Otitis media patients in Owo and Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Microbiological analyses were carried out on clinical samples from Otitis media patients attending two government hospitals in Akure and Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Bacteria isolates such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes and fungal isolates such as Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans were identified from the analyzed samples. All the bacteria isolates were screened for beta lactamase production of which varying percentages of the characterized isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production such as E. coli (12.1%), K. pneumoniae (16.7%), P. mirabilis (8.2%), P. aeruginosa (28.8%), S. aureus (11.1%), Strep. pneumoniae (13.3%), S. epidermidis (7.1%) and Strep. pyogenes (10.7%), respectively. The results obtained from antibiotic sensitivity revealed the presence of multiple antibiotic resistant isolates (MDRIs) present among the bacteria isolates obtained and that Nitrofurantoin and Ofloxacin were the most effective antibiotics against the bacteria isolates tested. The Multiple Drug Resistant Isolates were subjected to plasmid profile analysis and they were cured of their resistant factor plasmids; they were subjected to post-plasmid curing antibiotic resistant assay where it was discovered that their initial antibiotic resistance was plasmid-mediated. Furthermore, the antifungal sensitivity test of fungal isolates revealed that Fluconazole and Clotrimazole were the most effective antifungal agents against the fungal isolates obtained from the samples analyzed.