Launch of Indian Council of Medical Research funded ENT Project

We are pleased to announce that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is funding a three-year study titled Clinico microbiological study of chronic otitis media with reference to pseudomonas and related species. The study will be conducted by J Watumull Global Hospital and Research Centre with Dr Sharad Mehta, consultant ENT surgeon as the principal investigator.

The project aims to determine the relation between different types of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), that is, an ear condition resulting from the chronic infection of the middle ear characterised by persistent ear discharge and deafness. The study will investigate the changing spectrum of antibiotic sensitivity of COSM. Very few studies in Rajasthan have correlated the organism grown on culture and type of CSOM with the efficacy of topical antibiotic ear drops at drying the ear. Recently it has been observed that more cases of a certain type (TT type) of CSOM are showing the growth of pseudomonas SPPS which responds to limited antibiotics. This development is of concern considering the increasing resistance to antibiotics in the general population. Further study is required to understand pseudomonas and its various species, especially those found in TT type of CSOM and their antibiotic sensitivity. TT type of CSOM is more common in paediatric patients. Dr Mehta will also study the microbiological profile of CSOM with specific reference to pseudomonas and its various species in Garassia (tribal) patients with the aim of determining whether topical antibiotic ear drops alone are sufficient in controlling the infection and drying the ear.

The effective treatment of CSOM depends on knowledge of local pattern of disease, the prevalence of the organism and its sensitivity to different antibiotics. No study has been done on the microbiology of CSOM in tribals in Sirohi district or elsewhere. Dr Mehta will study around 600 patients of CSOM over the next three years.

Here, Dr Mehta is seen examining a child during an ear screening camp organised at the Delwada Secondary School in Mount Abu on July 8. In all, he screened 45 children with various ear problems. One child suffering from CSOM was enrolled for the study. Eight more children were referred for audiometry investigation that will be done free of cost at Global Hospital.