COLONIZATION OF PATHOGENIC AEROBIC BACTERIA IN THE EXTERNAL EAR AND EFFECTS OF CERUMEN TYPES, AGE, AND GENDER ON COLONIZATION

Aims: The study aimed to the prevalence of pathogenic aerobic bacteria colonization in outer ear and determine cerumen types among different ages sex selected individuals Sana'a city. Also determined effects types, age, on incidence bacterial colonization. Methods: current was carried out Department Medical Microbiology ENT Department, Faculty Medicine Health Sciences, Sana’a University. proposal permitted by ethics committee Faculty. Written informed consent taken from chosen participants. Families sample members residing various sectors city were visited at home which participants randomly all age groups sexes. Households reviewed time clinical examination done results recorded swab samples collected. rapid visual identification performed. culture collected transferred laboratory then growth identified standard bacteriological methods. Results: included 246 healthy persons, 33.3% them male 66.7% females. ranged 1 -80 years with mean equal 34.2±18.7 years, 96.3% subjects have wet type only 3.7% dry cerumen, 2.03% had impacted cerumen. most prevalent isolate Staphylococcus aureus 35 strains (14.2%), followed Psedumonas aureginosa 14 (5.7%). Klebsiella spp, Streptococcus pyogenes Hemophilus influenzae isolates less frequent 7 (2.8%), 6 (2.4%) 5 (2.03%) isolates, respectively. Positive for pathogens significantly associated males (OR=1.8, p=0.03), ≤15 group (OR=2.5, p=0.01), dry-type (OR=8.9, p=0.001). Conclusion: There are two distinct specific dry, appears be common Yemen, subspecies type, honey brown dominant. present concluded that some can cause otitis externa naturally normal external auditory canal. aureus, aureginosa, pyogenes, influenzae. Hence clinicians must find a history any predisposing factors before interpreting reports. Peer Review History: Received: 4 November 2022; Revised: 8 December; Accepted: January 2023, Available online: 15 2023 Academic Editor: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, [email protected] Received file: Reviewer's Comments: Average review marks initial stage: 6.0/10 publication 7.0/10 Reviewers: Dr. George Zhu, Tehran University Tehran, Iran, [email protected] A.A. Mgbahurike, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, [email protected]