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 Background & Objective: Chronic otitis media infection exists among 1.5-2 percent of people and its purulent discharges can create some difficulties for the patients. Chronic otitis media is mainly due to pseudomonas aeruginosa and staphylococcus aurous. Severe and irreversible damages should be expected unless follow up treatments are exactly performed in such patients. This study was conducted to determine the most prevalent microorganisms involved in otitis infection and their sensitivity to antibiotics.

 Methods: This is a descriptive study in which 60 patients who referred to nose and throat clinics of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences (2000-2001) were selected. Using applicator, some samples were taken from suppurative discharges of middle ear. These samples were then cultured in lactose broth and Nutrient broth. In order to isolate pathogenic microorganism, samples were also cultured in blood agar. Sensitivity of isolated pathogenic microorganism was determined against some antibiotics. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS software.

 Results: 56 out of 60 patients were culture positive. Microorganisms isolated from suppurative otitis media were Staphylococcus areus (31.6%), pseudomonas aeuroginosa (26.6%), proteus (20%), candida albicans (6.4%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (4.6%), aeuromonas (1.6%) and others (6.4%) respectively. Sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics was found to be Ciprofloxacin (94.6%), Co-trimoxazole (66.3%), Cloxacilin (64.3%), Chloramphenicol (64.3%),Cephalexin (64.3%), Erythromycin (60.7%), Amikacin (44.6%), Streptomycin (39.3%), Penicillin (5.4%) respectively.

 Conclusions: Since staphylococcus areus was�the most prevalent micro-organism in otitis media infection, and isolated microorganisms were more sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, antibiogram test is necessary prior to the treatment of otitis media.

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Background & objectives: The present study examined the gonadotoxic effects of ciprofloxacin antibiotics and protective effects of L-carnitine.
Methods: In this study, 20 NMRI mice were divided into four groups: control, ciprofloxacin, L-carnitine, L-carnitine-ciprofloxacin (each group included 5 animals). The control group received normal saline, the treatment group 1 received 12.5 mg/kg ciprofloxacin, the treatment group 2 received 100 mg/kg L- carnitine and the treatment group 3 received 100 mg/kg L- carnitine and 12.5 mg / kg ciprofloxacin simultaneously. All animals were treated by intraperitoneal administration for 15 days. Testis and epididymis were collected to evaluate sperm parameters (sperm count, motility, morphology and viability).
Results: In the ciprofloxacin group, a significant decrease in sperm count, sperm viability, sperm motility, progressive sperm motility and normal sperm as well as a significant increase in rotating sperm motility, sperm without movement, head and tail abnormalities were observed (p≤0.05). A significant increase in sperm count, sperm survival, motility and progressive sperm motility, normal sperm and a significant decrease in rotating sperm motility, sperm without movement and head abnormalities in the L-carnitine-ciprofloxacin group were observed (p≤0.05); however, the reduction in tail abnormalities of sperm was not significant.
Conclusion: L-carnitine improves sperm parameters in the adult mice treated with ciprofloxacin.