However, it has to be used with care and for limited periods because of its potential ototoxicity.6, see more 17 Conclusions The discharging ear is a common presentation in this large hospital, typically found in children under the age of five years. The most common bacteriologic cause of the discharging ear is Pseudomonas species followed by Staphylococcus aureus. Candida species is the commonest fungal cause of ear discharge. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin are effective ototopic antimicrobial agents for empirical treatment of the discharging ear. Limitations Demographic and clinical data was not completely analyzed on account of inadequate information on request cards. Vital information on the

clinical units where the ear discharge was sent from could not be determined; due to inadequate data from the laboratory

records. Anaerobes were not isolated because our laboratory doesn’t perform anaerobic cultures routinely. Due to periodic shortages in reagents the testing panel was reduced for particular periods during the period under review, thus affecting the denominators for the various antibiotics. However, the analysis gives enough basis for the application of the recommendations for health delivery in the Teaching Hospital Recommendations There is the need to conduct studies into individual infective causes of ear infections, their microbial profile and anti-microbial susceptibility patterns to further guide therapy. Continuous medical education programmes and seminars should be held periodically to help practitioners improve their ability to diagnose old ear infections. Clinicians must be encouraged DAPT datasheet to complete laboratory request forms appropriately to improve quality

of laboratory results and also aid research. Acknowledgements We are grateful to all the patients from whom the records were obtained and to the staff of the Microbiology Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for their support.

The phenomenon of the present study is the presence of older patients at a team meeting in a ward for older patients. The intention of the study is to gain a greater understanding of the findings from two empirical studies (Lindberg, Hörberg, Persson & Ekebergh, 2013a, 2013b). These indicated the need for further examination of the interpersonal relationships when an older patient is present at a team meeting. The present study is motivated by the need to explore dimensions of vulnerability and meaning, and how these dimensions can find their way into the tradition-bound situation of a team meeting. In an attempt to look beyond what is most evident and to gain a greater insight, the study has been conducted by creating a general structure and philosophically examining it in the light of Heidegger and Merleau-Ponty’s philosophies. The empirical as well as theoretical foundations are presented below and a further clarification of the study is presented in Figure 1. Figure 1 The research process.