Application of Anaerobic Techniques in Laboratory Diagnosis of Otitis Media in Nigeria: A Review

Abstract

Otitis media is a global disease with severe health, social and economic burdens. In Nigeria, there are limited data on the profile of anaerobic species associated with the categories of otitis media. The focus of most laboratory diagnosis for otitis media has been on aerobic organisms, the very few that considered anaerobes often use unsuitable standard anaerobic techniques that often lead to misdiagnosis. In other to prevent antibiotic resistance, treatment failure, recurrent infection and associated complication in cases of patients with otitis media, proper laboratory techniques should be utilized to ascertain the pathogens hence, anaerobes should not be overlooked. This review therefore underscores the standard methods of anaerobic techniques being utilized in the laboratory diagnosis of otitis media in Nigeria.