RESUMEN
Introduction: beta-lactamase-producing bacteria, especially extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers have strong clinical relevance and have been implicated in chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) treatment failures. This study aimed to determine the frequency, antibiogram, and molecular characteristics of ESBL-producing gram-negative bacterial (GNB) pathogens isolated from patients with CSOM. Methods: three hundred (300) ear swab samples collected from patients with active CSOM were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. Antibiogram of pathogens was determined by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion technique. Phenotypic detection and molecular characterization of ESBL-producing GNB pathogens were performed by double disk synergy test (DDST) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Escherichia coli and P. aeruginosa were more prevalent among CSOM patients with a duration of discharge >2 weeks. The frequency of ESBL producers among the GNB pathogens was 18.3%. Isolates were generally multidrug-resistant but very susceptible (100% - 70.4%) to ciprofloxacin, imipenem, and amikacin. Multiple antibiotic resistance values of the isolates ranged from 0.7-0.8. Polymerase chain reaction showed that blaSHV (47.6%) was the most predominant ESBL genotype. This was followed by blaTEM (25.2%) and blaCTX-M (10.7%) as the least predominant ESBL gene. Concomitant expression of ESBL gene was observed in 13.6% of the isolates. Conclusion: this study reported the occurrence and spread of ß-lactamase-producing bacteria in patients with CSOM infections. It is therefore very crucial to screen for antibiotic-resistant pathogens at early stages of CSOM infections, for proper antimicrobial therapy and to curb the increasing spread of antimicrobial resistance.