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Clinical and Microbiological Epidemiology of Otomycosis in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Received: 13 August 2020    Accepted: 24 August 2020    Published: 7 September 2020
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Abstract

Otomycosis is a superficial, sub-acute or chronic infection of the external auditory canal, characterized by pruritis, inflammation, pain and itching commonly seen in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Various host and environmental factors can predispose a person to otomycosis. However, a clinical presentation along with otoscopic observations of the patients shows fungal and bacterial infections. Proper identification of causative agents is necessary in order to prevent recurrences and complications such as hearing lost. The aim of our study was to determine the fungi and bacteria pathogens causing otomycosis and to derive association of risk factors with otomycosis of the clinically diagnosed patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the otorhinolaryngology department at the University Teaching hospital and the Central hospital over a period of one year. A total of 250 clinically diagnosed patients of otomycosis of age above one year were included in the study. We evaluated age and sex distribution, predisposing factors and complaints of the clinically diagnosed patients for otomycosis. All samples collected were transported and evaluated by both direct microscopic examination and culture method for bacteria and fungi examination, which were identified by standard procedures. Among 250 samples, 46.22% yielded fungal growth, 21.33% grew bacteria only and 32.44% showed mixed growth of fungi and bacteria. Major fungal isolates were Aspergillus (n=121) including 75 isolates of Aspergillus section Nigri, 20 isolates of Aspergillus section Flavi, 13 isolates of Aspergillus section Fumigati, 8 isolates of Aspergillus section Nudilante and 5 isolates of Aspergillus section Terrei. 48 isolates were identified as Candida species. Major bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (n=45) followed by Pseudomonas species (n=26), Klebsiella species (n=21), Escherichia coli (n=7) and Proteus species (n=3). This study highlights the highest isolation of Aspergillus section Nigri in cases of clinically diagnosed otomycosis patients at the two reference hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon with high prevalence seen in patients using antibiotic eardrops as a mean of treatment from pains and itching.

Published in European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences (Volume 6, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12
Page(s) 78-83
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Otomycosis, Aspergillus Species, Candida Species, Bacterial Pathogens, Predisposing Factor

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Ekpo Alfred Itor, Michel Noubom, Claude Nangwat, Dougue Aude Ngueguim, Cyrille Levis Kountchou, et al. (2020). Clinical and Microbiological Epidemiology of Otomycosis in the Centre Region of Cameroon. European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, 6(5), 78-83. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12

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    ACS Style

    Ekpo Alfred Itor; Michel Noubom; Claude Nangwat; Dougue Aude Ngueguim; Cyrille Levis Kountchou, et al. Clinical and Microbiological Epidemiology of Otomycosis in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Eur. J. Clin. Biomed. Sci. 2020, 6(5), 78-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12

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    AMA Style

    Ekpo Alfred Itor, Michel Noubom, Claude Nangwat, Dougue Aude Ngueguim, Cyrille Levis Kountchou, et al. Clinical and Microbiological Epidemiology of Otomycosis in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Eur J Clin Biomed Sci. 2020;6(5):78-83. doi: 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12,
      author = {Ekpo Alfred Itor and Michel Noubom and Claude Nangwat and Dougue Aude Ngueguim and Cyrille Levis Kountchou and Ngouana Kammalac Thierry and Dzoyem Jean Paul and Tume Christopher Bonglavnyuy},
      title = {Clinical and Microbiological Epidemiology of Otomycosis in the Centre Region of Cameroon},
      journal = {European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences},
      volume = {6},
      number = {5},
      pages = {78-83},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejcbs.20200605.12},
      abstract = {Otomycosis is a superficial, sub-acute or chronic infection of the external auditory canal, characterized by pruritis, inflammation, pain and itching commonly seen in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Various host and environmental factors can predispose a person to otomycosis. However, a clinical presentation along with otoscopic observations of the patients shows fungal and bacterial infections. Proper identification of causative agents is necessary in order to prevent recurrences and complications such as hearing lost. The aim of our study was to determine the fungi and bacteria pathogens causing otomycosis and to derive association of risk factors with otomycosis of the clinically diagnosed patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the otorhinolaryngology department at the University Teaching hospital and the Central hospital over a period of one year. A total of 250 clinically diagnosed patients of otomycosis of age above one year were included in the study. We evaluated age and sex distribution, predisposing factors and complaints of the clinically diagnosed patients for otomycosis. All samples collected were transported and evaluated by both direct microscopic examination and culture method for bacteria and fungi examination, which were identified by standard procedures. Among 250 samples, 46.22% yielded fungal growth, 21.33% grew bacteria only and 32.44% showed mixed growth of fungi and bacteria. Major fungal isolates were Aspergillus (n=121) including 75 isolates of Aspergillus section Nigri, 20 isolates of Aspergillus section Flavi, 13 isolates of Aspergillus section Fumigati, 8 isolates of Aspergillus section Nudilante and 5 isolates of Aspergillus section Terrei. 48 isolates were identified as Candida species. Major bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (n=45) followed by Pseudomonas species (n=26), Klebsiella species (n=21), Escherichia coli (n=7) and Proteus species (n=3). This study highlights the highest isolation of Aspergillus section Nigri in cases of clinically diagnosed otomycosis patients at the two reference hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon with high prevalence seen in patients using antibiotic eardrops as a mean of treatment from pains and itching.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Clinical and Microbiological Epidemiology of Otomycosis in the Centre Region of Cameroon
    AU  - Ekpo Alfred Itor
    AU  - Michel Noubom
    AU  - Claude Nangwat
    AU  - Dougue Aude Ngueguim
    AU  - Cyrille Levis Kountchou
    AU  - Ngouana Kammalac Thierry
    AU  - Dzoyem Jean Paul
    AU  - Tume Christopher Bonglavnyuy
    Y1  - 2020/09/07
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12
    T2  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    JF  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    JO  - European Journal of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences
    SP  - 78
    EP  - 83
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5005
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejcbs.20200605.12
    AB  - Otomycosis is a superficial, sub-acute or chronic infection of the external auditory canal, characterized by pruritis, inflammation, pain and itching commonly seen in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Various host and environmental factors can predispose a person to otomycosis. However, a clinical presentation along with otoscopic observations of the patients shows fungal and bacterial infections. Proper identification of causative agents is necessary in order to prevent recurrences and complications such as hearing lost. The aim of our study was to determine the fungi and bacteria pathogens causing otomycosis and to derive association of risk factors with otomycosis of the clinically diagnosed patients. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the otorhinolaryngology department at the University Teaching hospital and the Central hospital over a period of one year. A total of 250 clinically diagnosed patients of otomycosis of age above one year were included in the study. We evaluated age and sex distribution, predisposing factors and complaints of the clinically diagnosed patients for otomycosis. All samples collected were transported and evaluated by both direct microscopic examination and culture method for bacteria and fungi examination, which were identified by standard procedures. Among 250 samples, 46.22% yielded fungal growth, 21.33% grew bacteria only and 32.44% showed mixed growth of fungi and bacteria. Major fungal isolates were Aspergillus (n=121) including 75 isolates of Aspergillus section Nigri, 20 isolates of Aspergillus section Flavi, 13 isolates of Aspergillus section Fumigati, 8 isolates of Aspergillus section Nudilante and 5 isolates of Aspergillus section Terrei. 48 isolates were identified as Candida species. Major bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (n=45) followed by Pseudomonas species (n=26), Klebsiella species (n=21), Escherichia coli (n=7) and Proteus species (n=3). This study highlights the highest isolation of Aspergillus section Nigri in cases of clinically diagnosed otomycosis patients at the two reference hospital in Yaoundé, Cameroon with high prevalence seen in patients using antibiotic eardrops as a mean of treatment from pains and itching.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 5
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

  • Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

  • Department of Biochemistry, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon

  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

  • Biomedical Research Unit, Sion Laboratory, Yaounde, Cameroon

  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

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