Otitis media has been reported as a common childhood disease and is associated with multiple microbial pathogens within the middle ear. Though the causative agents of this infection have largely remained the same over the years, current literature reviews show that the antibiotic susceptibility pattern has changed considerably. This study aimed to identify bacterial isolates and determine their antibiotic susceptibility and resistance patterns in children who had otitis media. This is a retrospective analysis of ear swab microscopy, culture and sensitivity (MCS) results of children between the age of 0 and 13 years who presented with clinical episodes of otitis media over a four year period. A total of 53 results were retrieved from the laboratory record book of which 43 were culture positive giving a yield of 84.9%. Males were 33 (62.3%) giving a M:F ratio of 1.7:1 and 71.7% were below the age of 5 years. Majority (68.9%) of the isolates were Gram positive organisms with Staphylococcus aureus being the commonest bacteria isolated (53.3%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.0%) and then Streptococcus pyogenes (13.3%). The isolates were highly susceptible to ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and gentamicin, while all were found to be resistant to tetracycline, cefixime and levofloxacin. S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and S. pyogenes were the commonest bacterial isolates in the patients. Ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and gentamicin were the antibiotics with the highest bacterial susceptibility rate. Children with ear discharge were recommended to be investigated and treatment should be based on antimicrobial test to prevent resistance and probably complications.

Against the background of persistent outbreaks of Fowl typhoid and Colibacillosis in five commercial layer farms in Zaria, Nigeria, this study was conducted to screen rats for Escherichia coli and Salmonella gallinarum in the farms, and to evaluate the susceptibility of the bacterial organisms to ten commonly used antimicrobial drugs in Zaria. A total of 250 rectal swabs of rats comprising Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) and Roof rats (Rattus rattus) caught with sticky traps in the farms were analyzed. Standard methods were used to isolate E. coli and S. gallinarum. Biochemical characterization of E. coli and S. gallinarum was also done according to standard method. Disc diffusion method was used to determine the susceptibility of the organisms to ten antimicrobial agents: amoxycillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamycin, neomycin, nitrofurantoin, sulphamexazole and tetracycline. Of the 250 rats screened, 112 (44.8%) were positive for S. gallinarum and E. coli. The result indicated occurrence rates of 26.8% for E. coli and 18.0% for S. gallinarum in the rats screened. The antibiogram revealed that 38 (56.7%) of the E. coli and 29 (64%) of the S. gallinarum isolated were resistant to all drugs tested except ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin. Complete resistance to nitrofurantoin was observed in 11.9% of E. coli and 13.3% of S. gallinarum. The need to introduce and sustain rat control programme was recommended. Special emphasis also needs to be given for the rational use of drugs to avoid problems of resistence among bacterial pathogens of poultry.