CHAPTER ONE                                                                                        1 

1.1      Introduction                                                                                     1 

1.2      Aim and Objectives of the Study                                                       3 

1.2.1   Aim of the Study                                                                              3 

1.2.2   Objective of the Study                                                                      3 

CHAPTER TWO: Literature Review                                                          4 

2.1      Pattern of Bacteria Isolates in the Ear                                                4 

2.2      Antibiotics and Factors that Mitigate Antibiotics Resistance               5 

2.3      Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance of Bacteria Pathogens in the Ear      6 

CHAPTER THREE: Materials and Methods                                                9 

3.1      Collection of Sample                                                                        9 

3.2      Sterilization of Glasswares                                                               9 

3.3      Media Preparation                                                                           9 

3.4      Isolation of Bacteria                                                                         9 

3.4.1   Culture of Sample                                                                            9 

3.5      Identification of Isolates                                                                   10 

3.6      Morphological and Biochemical Characterization                              10 

3.6.1   Gram Staining                                                                                 10 

3.6.2   Catalase Test                                                                                   11 

3.6.3   Oxidase Test                                                                                    11 

3.6.4   Citrate Utilisation Test                                                                     12 

3.6.5   Urease Test                                                                                     12 

3.6.6   Indole Test                                                                                      12 

3.6.7   Methyl Red Test                                                                              12 

3.6.8   Voges Proskauer Test                                                                       13 

3.7      Antibiotics Test                                                                               13 

3.8      Preparation of Inoculum                                                                  13 

CHAPTER FOUR: Results                                                                                        15 

CHAPTER FIVE                                                                                        23 

5.1      Discussion                                                                                      23 

5.2      Conclusion and Recommendation                                                     25 

References                                                                                                27 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table              Title                                                                                                    Pages 

4.1       Morphological Characteristics of Bacteria Isolated from Ear Swab                           17 

4.2       Biochemical Reaction of Bacteria Isolated from Ear Swab                                       18 

4.3       Frequency and Percentage of Bacterial Isolated from Ear Swab                           19 

4.4       Zone of Inhibition of Gram Negative Bacteria Isolated from Ear Swab Samples      20 

4.5       Zone of Inhibition of Gram Positive Bacteria Isolated from Ear Swab Samples      21 

The aim of this study was to characterize bacteria isolated from ear swabs of university students and determine their antibiotic resistance profile. Twenty five (25) ear swab samples were collected using sterile swab sticks from students of Olabisi Onabanjo University. The microbiology of 25 ear swab samples was studied. The microorganism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Serratia Marcescens. Drug resistance pattern of Seratia marcscens showed resistance to Septrim, Chloramphenicol, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Gentamycin, Pefloxacin, Tarivid and Streptomycin. It was intermediate to ciprofloxacin and showed sensitivity to sparfloxacin. Proteus mirabilis was resistant to Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin and Pefloxacin. It showed intermediate to sparfloxacin, and sensitivity to septrim, chloramphenicol, augmenting, gentamycin, pefloxacin, tarivid and streptomycin. Escherichia coli showed resistance to Pefloxacin and Tarivid. Klebsiella pneumoniae was resistant to only Pefloxacin. It showed senility to septrim, chloramphenicol, sparfloxacin and showed sensitivity to augumentin, gentamycin and streptomycin. Klebsiella pneumoniae was resistant to only pefloxacin and intermediate to ciprofloxacin. It showed sensitivity to septrim, chloramphenicol, sparfloxacin, amoxicillin, augmentin, gentamycin, tarivid and streptomycin. All gram negative isolates were resistant to pefloxacin while septrim, chloramphenicol, augmentin, gentamycin and Streptomycin were susceptible to at least 3 of the isolates were susceptible to septrim, chloramphenicol, augumentin, gentamycin and streptomycin.. Staphylococcus aureus was resistance to ampiclox, amoxicillin, rocephin ciprofloxacin and was sensitive to pefloxacin, gentamycin, zinnacef, streptomycin, septrim and erythromycin. Streptococcus spp. showed resistance to gentamycin, ampiclox, amoxicillin, rocephin, streptomycin, septrim and erythromycin while it was intermediate to ciprofloxacin. It was sensitive to pefloxacin and zinnacef. All gram positive isolates were resistant to amploclox, amoxicillin and rocephin. The judicious use of antibiotics should be considered for the better treatment and to avoid the development of resistant organisms in organisms associated with ear swab. 

Keywords: Ear swabs, Antibiotics, Bacteria, Resistance Profile.