Detection of FOX-AmpC-β-lactamase gene and antibiogram of AmpC-beta-lactamase-producing pathogens isolated from chronic suppurative otitis media patients in Nigeria

AmpC-producing Gram-negative bacterial (GNB) pathogens are distributed worldwide, espe- cially in clinical settings. This study aimed to determine the antibiogram and the type of AmpC-β-lactamase gene harboured by GNB pathogens implicated in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) cases.

Ear swab samples (300) collected from patients with active CSOM were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. Phenotypic and molecular detection of AmpC β-lactamase production was done by cefoxitin/ cloxacillin double-disk synergy test and PCR respectively. Antibiogram was determined by disk diffusion technique.

Among the GNB pathogens isolated from CSOM patients, P. aeruginosa was the most predominant (36.3%); fol- lowed by K. pneumoniae (22.3%), and E. coli (13.7%). Patients with active CSOM showed increased bacteria isolation rate from bilateral ear discharges than unilateral ear discharges. E. coli and P. aeruginosa were more prevalent among patients with duration of discharge >2 weeks; recording 9.0% and 20.3% respectively. AmpC β-lactamase producers accounted for 14.0%; they were highly resistant (60%-100%) to cephalosporins, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, ofloxacin, amoxicillin, and tetracycline, but very susceptible (70.4%-100%) to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and amikacin. Multiple antibiotic resistance indices of isolates ranged from 0.7-0.8. FOX-AmpC-β-lactamase gene was detected in 3.9% of the isolates.

The detection of AmpC β-lactamase-producing multidrug-resistant GNB pathogens harbouring FOX-AmpC- β-lactamase gene among patients with CSOM infections in our study is a serious public health problem which needs urgent intervention.