191 DISC

Veterinary Dermatology 2000, 11, 235239

Microbial ora and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns

from dogs with otitis media
SARAH COLOMBINI, SANDRA R. MERCHANT and GISELLE HOSGOOD
Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University,
Louisiana 70803, USA
(Received 21 July 1998; accepted 25 June 1999)

Abstract This study evaluated the middle ear microbial ora and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from
dogs with otitis media. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were obtained on 164 micro-organisms from 107
ears of 82 dogs with otitis media that presented to Louisiana State University over a 12-year period. The most
common micro-organisms isolated were Staphylococcus intermedius (26.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(23.2%), b-haemolytic streptococcus (12.8%), Proteus spp. (11.0%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.5%).
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on all isolates employing the disk diusion method (KirbyBauer). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing for enrooxacin and ciprooxacin was performed
on 10 of the 18 P. aeruginosa isolates found to be resistant to enrooxacin on Kirby-Bauer. Of these isolates, 6
(60%) were susceptible, 1 (10%) was intermediate and 3 (30%) were resistant to enrooxacin. Eight of these
isolates (80%) were susceptible to ciprooxacin, 1 (10%) showed intermediate susceptibility and 1 (10%) was
resistant.
Keywords: antimicrobial susceptibility patterns, disk diusion method, microbial ora, minimum inhibitory
concentration testing, otitis media.

INTRODUCTION
Otitis media, inammation of the middle ear, may
occur via direct extension from otitis externa, haematogenous spread, or extension of infection from the
nasopharynx via the eustachian tube.1 Direct extension from otitis externa appears to be the most
common cause. Bacteria are the most frequently
isolated micro-organisms in otitis media.24
Diagnosis of otitis media may prove arduous.
Clinical signs are often nonspecic and masked by
concurrent otitis externa. Otoscopic examination of
the tympanic membrane dicult due to exudate and
canal stenosis may be associated with chronic otitis
externa. Even when examination reveals that the
tympanic membrane is intact, the possibility of otitis
media cannot be ruled out.46 In these cases, a
myringotomy may be necessary to determine if otitis
media is present and to obtain samples from the
middle ear for cytology and culture and susceptibility
testing. Imaging techniques such as radiography,
computer tomography and magnetic image resonance
may also be employed to aid in the diagnosis.
However, surgical exploration of the middle ear via
bulla osteotomy, although invasive, remains the most
reliable diagnostic option.7 A bulla osteotomy not
only permits direct examination and culture from the
Correspondence: Sarah Colombini, DVM, Diplomate American
College of Verterinary Dermatology, Gulf Coast Veterinary
Dermatology and Allergy, 1111 West Loop South, Suite 120,
Houston, TX 77027, USA. Tel.: (713) 6931188.
# 2000 Blackwell Science Ltd

middle ear, but also allows for temporary drainage of

the middle ear and provides a direct route for
instilling medications.8
In dogs with otitis media, cytology and antimicrobial culture, and susceptibility testing from middle ear
exudate, are recommended to aid in the selection of
an appropriate systemic antimicrobial agent.4
Although various studies have evaluated the microbial ora in otitis externa,920 only one has evaluated
the microbial ora of dogs with otitis media.4 The
purpose of this study was to evaluate the middle ear
microbial ora and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from dogs with otitis media.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
From March 1986 to March 1998, 235 dogs presented
to either the dermatology or soft tissue surgery
service at Louisiana State University School of
Veterinary Medicine for evaluation of suspected
otitis media. These records were reviewed and dogs
that had otoscopic (abnormal or ruptured tympanic
membranes), radiographic (increased bulla opacity or
osseous changes) and/or gross evidence at surgery
(discolored epithelium, osseous changes or exudate
via bulla osteotomy) of otitis media, and had a
positive culture and susceptibility prole from the
middle ear, were included in the study. Culture
samples were obtained via sterile saline ush and
aspiration through a ruptured tympanic membrane
or myringotomy site and via sterile swab (Becton
235

191 DISC
236

S. Colombini et al.

Dickinson Microbiology Systems) during bulla osteotomy. Samples were submitted to the Louisiana
Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory for culture and susceptibility testing.
Specimens were inoculated onto Columbia CNA
agar plates, MacConkey agar plates and 5% sheep's
blood agar plates and incubated at 37 8C for 2472 h.
The plates were evaluated every 24 h and discarded if
no growth was noted after 72 h. Micro-organisms
were identied by routine biochemical methods.21
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed
utilizing the Dispens-O-DiscTM disk diusion method
(Kirby-Bauer).22 For Table 2, intermediate values
were reported as resistant. This was a conservative
approach in the interpretation of the disk diusion
susceptibility proles.
Evaluation of the records revealed 18 isolates of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa that were resistant to enrooxacin on Kirby-Bauer. Ten of these 18 isolates, as a
result of clinician preference, subsequently underwent
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing with
enrooxacin and ciprooxacin. Standard protocol
employing the Sensititre1 machine was followed.21
For enrooxacin, isolates with an MIC value of
0.5 mg mL1 or less were classied as susceptible,
isolates with an MIC value of 1 mg mL1 were classied as intermediate and isolates with an MIC value
of 2 mg mL1 or higher were classied as resistant. For
ciprooxacin, isolates with an MIC value of 1 mg mL1
or less were classied as susceptible, isolates with an
MIC value of 2 mg mL1 were classied as intermediate
and isolates with an MIC value of 4 mg mL1 or higher
were classied as resistant.
Statistics
The distribution of the bacterial isolates for the two
dierent methods of sample collection (via bulla
osteotomy or through a ruptured tympanic membrane or myringotomy site) were tested for homogeneity using the Chi square Goodness of Fit test.23 It
was determined that there was no signicant dierence in the distribution of bacterial isolates between
the dierent methods of collection (P = 0.177).
Hence, the two groups were consolidated and the
combined data was evaluated.
RESULTS
Eighty-two dogs with otitis media tted the inclusion
criteria. The dogs ranged in age from 1 to 14 years,
and Cocker spaniels represented 48.8% (40/82) of the
dogs. Of the 10 dogs from which isolates of P.
aeruginosa were obtained for MIC testing, only two
were Cocker spaniels. Twenty-ve of the 82 dogs had
bilateral ear cultures performed and 12 of those had
the same micro-organisms cultured from both ears
with identical susceptibility proles. These identical
micro-organisms (Staphylococcus intermedius, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
# 2000 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 11, 235239

b-haemolytic streptococcus, Proteus spp., Escherichia

coli) and their susceptibility proles were only
counted once in the data analysis.
Antimicrobial susceptibility proles were obtained
on 164 micro-organisms from 107 ears. Samples were
obtained via sterile saline ush and aspiration
through a ruptured tympanic membrane or myringotomy site in 31 ears (55/164 isolates), and via sterile
swab during a bulla osteotomy in 76 ears (109/164
isolates). One to 6 micro-organisms (mean = 1.67)
were isolated from each ear. Two or less microorganisms were isolated from 76 of the 107 ears
(71%), with 46 ears (43%) having pure one-organism
cultures.
The ve most commonly isolated micro-organisms
were Staphylococcus intermedius (26.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.2%), b-haemolytic streptococcus
(12.8%), Proteus spp. (11.0%) and Staphylococcus
epidermidis (8.6%). Eight species of micro-organisms
comprised the remaining 17.6% [Table 1]. The antimicrobial susceptibility proles of the ve most common isolates were variable and are listed in Table 2.
Minimum inhibitory concentrations for enrooxacin and ciprooxacin were performed on 10 isolates
of P. aeruginosa that were resistant to enrooxacin on
Kirby-Bauer. Six of these isolates (60%) were subsequently susceptible to enrooxacin on MIC, 1 (10%)
showed intermediate susceptibility and 3 (30%) were
resistant. Eight of these isolates (80%) were susceptible to ciprooxacin on MIC, 1 (10%) showed
intermediate susceptibility and 1 (10%) was resistant.
DISCUSSION
In this study, 13 dierent micro-organisms were
isolated from the middle ears of dogs with otitis
media. The ve most common isolates were Staphylococcus intermedius (26.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(23.2%), b-haemolytic streptococcus (12.8%), Proteus spp. (11.0%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis
Table 1. Organisms isolated by bacterial culture from 107 ears of
82 dogs with otitis media
Isolate
Staphylococcus intermedius
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
b-haemolytic streptococcus
Proteus spp.
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Escherichia coli
a-haemolytic streptococcus
Enterobacter spp.
Pasteurella multocida
Corynebacterium spp.
Enterococcus spp.
Klebsiella spp.
Malassezia pachydermatis
Total

% of
all isolates

% of
all ears

44
38
21
18
14
10
7
3
2
2
2
2
1

26.8
23.2
12.8
11.0
8.5
6.1
4.3
1.8
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.2
0.6

41.1
35.5
19.6
16.8
13.1
9.3
6.5
2.8
1.9
1.9
1.9
1.9
0.9

164

99.9*

No.

*Total does not add up to 100% because numbers were rounded to

the nearest 0.1%.

191 DISC
Microbial ora in otitis media

237

Table 2. Results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the ve most common isolates from the middle ears of dogs with otitis media*

Ampicillin
Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid
Carbenicillin
Ceftazidime
Cephalothin
Chloramphenicol
Clindamycin
Enrooxacin
Erythromycin
Gentamicin
Kanamycin
Oxacillin
Penicillin
Tetracycline
Trimethoprim-sulfadiazine

Staphylococcus
intermedius

Pseudomonas
aeruginosa

b-haemolytic
streptococcus

Proteus spp.

Staphylococcus
epidermidis

S (%)
29 (66)
42 (100)
40 (98)
37 (95)
43 (98)
42 (98)
30 (81)
36 (92)
32 (73)
39 (89)
32 (74)
37 (95)
28 (64)
37 (84)
30 (70)

S (%)
1 (3)
1 (3)
3 (81)
35 (97)
1 (3)
5 (14)
0 (0)
19 (51)
0 (0)
26 (68)
1 (3)
0 (0)
0 (0)
1 (3)
3 (8)

S (%)
21 (100)
19 (95)
20 (95)
17 (89)
20 (95)
19 (95)
16 (80)
19 (95)
19 (90)
20 (95)
4 (20)
18 (90)
21 (100)
18 (86)
18 (95)

S (%)
17 (94)
16 (94)
16 (100)
15 (100)
15 (83)
12 (67)
0 (0)
15 (100)
0 (0)
15 (83)
16 (89)
0 (0)
11 (61)
1 (6)
15 (83)

S (%)
14 (100)
12 (92)
14 (100)
12 (100)
13 (93)
14 (100)
10 (83)
12 (100)
14 (100)
13 (93)
13 (93)
9 (75)
13 (93)
13 (93)
13 (93)

R (%)
15 (34)
0 (0)
1 (2)
2 (5)
1 (2)
1 (2)
7 (19)
3 (8)
12 (27)
5 (11)
11 (26)
2 (5)
16 (36)
7 (16)
13 (30)

R (%)
37 (97)
37 (97)
7 (19)
1 (3)
37 (97)
32 (86)
36 (100)
18 (49)
38 (100)
12 (32)
37 (97)
37 (100)
38 (100)
37 (97)
34 (92)

R (%)
0 (0)
1 (5)
1 (5)
2 (11)
1 (5)
1 (5)
4 (20)
1 (5)
2 (10)
1 (5)
16 (80)
2 (10)
0 (0)
3 (14)
1 (5)

R (%)
1 (6)
1 (6)
0 (0)
0 (0)
3 (17)
6 (33)
15 (100)
0 (0)
18 (100)
3 (17)
2 (11)
15 (100)
7 (39)
17 (94)
3 (17)

R (%)
0 (0)
1 (8)
0 (0)
0 (0)
1 (7)
0 (0)
2 (17)
0 (0)
0 (0)
1 (7)
1 (7)
3 (25)
1 (7)
1 (7)
1 (7)

S = number of sensitive isolates

R = number of resistant isolates
* Isolate numbers vary due to changes in antibiotics included in the disk diusion proles over the 12-year period of this study

(8.5%). Of the 13 micro-organisms isolated, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus sp., Escherichia coli,
Corynebacterium spp. and yeasts have been isolated
from the middle ears of normal dogs.24 Most of the
isolates in the current study have been previously
reported in dogs with otitis media.1,3,4,7,2527 However, three isolates, Enterobacter spp., Pasteurella
multocida and Klebsiella spp., have not been previously reported in dogs with otitis media.
Systemic antimicrobial therapy based on culture
and susceptibility results from the middle ear is
recommended in dogs with otitis media.2 When
obtaining culture specimens of middle ear exudate
through the external ear canal, contamination with
micro-organisms from the external canal may occur.
This is especially true when chronic otitis externa,
which is often concurrently present, has resulted in
signicant exudation and stenosis of the external
canal. This contamination may prove detrimental
with regards to selection of antimicrobial therapy
since, in both normal and diseased ears, the same
micro-organisms are rarely found in both the middle
and external portions of the ear.4,24 Seventy-one
percent (76/107) of ears in this study were cultured
via bulla osteotomy, limiting the potential for
contamination and making it likely that the results
are a true representation of otitis media ora.
Controversy exists in the literature regarding the
incidence of yeast otitis media.1,4,27 A previous study
evaluated the microbial ora of otitis media by
passing a sterile culture swab through a sterilized
otoscopic cone into the middle ear for bacterial
culture, susceptibility testing and cytological evaluation.4 Yeast were isolated from the middle ear in
34.2% of the ears in this previous study. In the
current study, however, only one isolate (0.6%) of
Malassezia pachydermatis was grown on culture from
the middle ear. An explanation for the low number of

yeast organisms isolated in the current study may be

that cytology, which is reported to be the preferred
method for detection of yeast otitis, was not
performed.28 Dierences in methods of sample
collection may also be a factor, as 71% of the ears
in the current study were sampled via bulla osteotomy, limiting the potential for contamination from
the external ear canal. Variance in the population
may be another potential reason for the discrepancy
since 48.8% of the dogs in the current study were
Cocker spaniels, compared to 27% in the previous
study.4 Additionally, specic culture media for the
growth of yeast (Sabouraud's dextrose agar) was not
utilized in the current study which may have
articially lowered the incidence of yeast otitis media.
In the current study, 12 of the 25 dogs that had
bilateral cultures performed had the same microorganisms cultured from both middle ears with identical susceptibility proles. In the previous study, of 16
dogs with otitis media from which bilateral cultures
were performed, none had identical micro-organisms
cultured.4 Potential reasons for this disparity may
include dierences in the population and/or methods
of obtaining culture samples as discussed previously.
The susceptibility of Staphylococcus epidermidis
isolates was 100% for ampicillin, carbenicillin,
ceftazidime, chloramphenicol, enrooxacin and erythromycin (Table 2). Likewise, the susceptibility of
Staphylococcus intermedius isolates to amoxicillinclavulanic acid (100%), carbenicillin (98%), cephalothin (98%) and chloramphenicol (98%) was extremely high. The susceptibility of Staphylococcus
intermedius to trimethoprim-sulfadiazine (70%), ampicillin (66%) and penicillin (64%) was much higher
than in a previous study which found the susceptibility to be 35.7%.4 This discrepancy may be due to
variance in population or regional dierences in the
use of systemic antimicrobial agents.
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S. Colombini et al.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from the middle

ear were almost always susceptible to ceftazidime
(97%) and, to a lesser degree, carbenicillin (81%)
(Table 2). The susceptibility of isolates to gentamicin
(68%) and enrooxacin (51%) was much less. The
susceptibility of Pseudomonas isolates to all other
antimicrobial agents tested was less than 50%. This is
in contrast to a previous study, in which gentamicin
(60%) and enrooxacin (35%) were the only two
systemic antimicrobial agents to which Pseudomonas
isolates showed susceptibility.4 Based on the considerable variability in susceptibility exhibited by P.
aeruginosa in this study, antimicrobial culture and
susceptibility testing is recommended whenever a
Pseudomonas otitis media is suspected.
The standard method for antimicrobial susceptibility testing is the dilution method, which is
quantitative in nature.21 The Kirby-Bauer method
was extrapolated from the dilution method as a less
complex means to determine antimicrobial susceptibility and is currently the most commonly utilized
methodology. However, due to the dierences in
methodology, some disparity between the KirbyBauer and dilution methods is inevitable. Compared
to the qualitative Kirby-Bauer method, the micro
dilution method of MIC susceptibility testing is
considered more reliable and useful for determining
optimal therapeutic dosing regimens.21 As noted in
the current and previous studies,4,25,27 Pseudomonas
aeruginosa is commonly isolated in otitis media and
often shows resistance to multiple antimicrobial
agents on Kirby-Bauer, including the uoroquinolones. In the current study, the majority of the P.
aeruginosa isolates were susceptible to enrooxacin
(60%) and ciprooxacin (80%) on MIC testing,
despite being resistant to enrooxacin on KirbyBauer. However, only 10 resistant isolates were
evaluated in the current study, making it impossible
to draw signicant conclusions. This nding suggests,
however, that MIC susceptibility testing may be the
preferred method on which to base systemic antimicrobial therapy in cases of Pseudomonas otitis
media, although further evaluation is necessary.

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Resume Cette etude a evalue la ore microbienne et la sensibilite antibacterienne des germes isoles en cas
d'otite moyenne chez le chien. Des antibiogrammes ont ete obtenus a partir de 164 microorganismes isoles de
107 oreilles chez 82 chiens presentes avec une otite moyenne a l'Universite de Louisiane sur une periode de 12
ans. Les bacteries le plus frequemment isolees etaient Staphylococcus intermedius (26.8%), Pseudomonas
aeruginosa (23.2%), des streptocoques b-hemolytiques (12.8%), Proteus spp. (11.0%) et Staphylococcus
epidermidis (8.5%). Un antibiogramme a ete realise sur toutes les souches, par la methode des disques (KirbyBauer). La concentration minimale inhibitrice (CMI) de l'enrooxacine et de la ciprooxacine a ete
determinee pour 10 souches de P. aeruginosa sur 18 souches resistantes par la technique Kirby-Bauer. Sur ces
souches, 6 (60%) etaient sensibles, 1 (10%) etait intermediaire et 3 (30%) etaient resistantes a l'enrooxacine.
Huit de ces souches (80%) etaient sensibles a la ciprooxacine, 1 (10%) etait intermediaire et 1 (10%) etait
resistante. [Colombini, S., Merchant, S. R. et Hosgood, G. Microbial ora and antimicrobial susceptibility
patterns from dogs with otitis media. (Flore microbienne et sensibilite antibacterienne des germes isoles des
otites moyennes chez le chien.) Veterinary Dermatology 2000; 11: 235239.]
Resumen Este estudio evaluo la ora microbiana del oido medio y los patrones de susceptibilidad
antimicrobiana de perros con otitis media. Los patrones de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana fueron obtenidos
de 164 microorganismos de 107 oidos de 82 perros con otitis media, que se presentaron a la Louisiana State
University durante un per odo de 12 anos. Los microorganismos aislados mas frecuentemente fueron
Staphylococcus intermedius (26.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.2%), estreptococos b-hemol ticos (12.8%),
Proteus spp. (11.0%) y Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.5%). Las pruebas de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana se
llevaron a cabo sobre todos los aislamientos empleando el metodo de difusion en disco (Kirby-Bauer). La
prueba de concentracion inhibitoria m nima (MIC) para la enrooxacina y la ciprooxacina se llevo a cabo en
10 de los 18 aislamientos de P. aeruginosa resistentes a la enrooxacina en la prueba de Kirby-Bauer. De estos
aislamientos, 6 (60%) eran susceptibles, 1 (10%) era intermedio y 3 (30%) fueron resistentes a la
enrooxacina. Ocho de estos aislamientos (80%) eran susceptibles a la ciprooxacina, 1 (10%) mostro una
susceptibilidad intermedia y 1 (10%) fue resistente. [Colombini, S., Merchant, S. R. e Hosgood, G. Microbial
ora and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from dogs with otitis media. Flora microbiana y patrones de
susceptibilidad antimicrobiana de perros con otitis media.) Veterinary Dermatology 2000; 11: 235239.]
Zusammenfassung vorliegende Studie untersuchte die mikrobielle Flora und antimikrobiellen
Resistenzprole von Hunden mit Otitis media. Von 164 Mikroorganismen aus 107 Ohren von 82 Hunden
mit Otitis media, die der Louisiana State Universitat uber einen Zeitraum von 12 Jahren vorgestellt wurden,
wurden antimikrobielle Resistenzprole erstellt. Die am haugsten isolierten Mikroorganismen waren
Staphylococcus intermedius (26.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.2%), b-hamolysierende Streptokokken
(12.8%), Proteus spp. (11.0%) und Staphylococcus epidermidis (8.5%). Antimikrobielle Resistenztests nach
der Disk-Diusionsmethode (Kirby-Bauer) wurden bei allen Isolaten durchgefuhrt. Die Minimal
Inhibitorische Konzentration (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC) fur Enrooxacin und
Ciprooxacin wurde fur 10 von 18 der P. aeruginosa Isolate bestimmt, die nach dem Kirby-Bauer Test als
resistent gegen Enrooxacin eingestuft worden waren. Von diesen Isolaten waren 6 (60%) sensibel, 1 (10%)
intermediar und 3 (30%) resistent gegen Enrooxacin. Acht dieser Isolate (80%) waren sensibel fur
Ciprooxacin, 1 (10%) zeigte intermediare Resistenz und 1 (10%) war resistent. [Colombini, S., Merchant, S.
R. und Hosgood, G. Microbial ora and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from dogs with otitis media.
(Mikrobielle Flora und antimikrobielle Resistenzprole von Hunden mit Otitis media.) Veterinary
Dermatology 2000; 11: 235239.]

# 2000 Blackwell Science Ltd, Veterinary Dermatology, 11, 235239