Abstract
Objectives
1) To evaluate if there has been an increase in resistance of bacteria from genus Pseudomonas to ciprofloxacin in patients with malignant external otitis (MEO), and 2) if this has increased the morbidity of the disease.
Methods
Study Design: retrospective. Setting: tertiary referral center. Patients: 21 patients with MEO over 15 years. The records of these patients were reviewed. Samples taken from the external auditory meatus using sterile swabs were sent to the laboratory for processing, where sensitivity of the microorganisms was tested using the agar diffusion method for 15 different antibacterial agents.
Results
As of 2006, no cases of ciprofloxacin resistance had been detected in patients with MEO treated at this institution. 2 cases (9,5%) of ciprofloxacin resistance were identified in 2007, obtaining a good response with the use of cefepime at a dose of 4g/day. None of the cases presented resistance to amikacin, imipenem, meropenem, cefepime, or ceftazidime. All cases of resistance were in elderly coming from the community, diabetics who had already used systemic or topical ciprofloxacin with no improvement in their condition. No increase in morbidity and mortality was observed in this group.
Conclusions
Ciprofloxacin resistance was found in 9.5% of the samples isolated over the years. No increase in morbidity was observed.
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