OBJECTIVE To study the pathogenic bacteria and its resistance to antibiotics in chronic suppurative otitis media. METHODS Secretion from 132 cases with chronic suppurative otitis media were cultured. Drug sensitivity tests were done to separate pathogenic bacteria. RESULTS 152 strains pathogenic bacteria were isolated from middle ear secretion. The main pathogenic bacteria were staphylococcus aureus (49 strains), pseudomonas aeruginosa (25 strains) and fungus (5 strains). Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to fluorquinolones, and the sensitivity rate was 79.6 %. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was sensitive to fluoroquinolones and floxacin, and the sensitivity rates were 84 % and 64 %. CONCLUSION Staphylococcus aureus and pseudomonas aeruginosa are main pathogens of chronic suppurative otitis media in our region. Both of them are sensitive to fluorquinolones. Meanwhile, pseudomonas aeruginosa is also sensitive to ceftazidime of the third cephalosporins. So doctors should choose the sensitive antibiotics for treatment of the chronic suppurative otitis media, that may avoid the bacteria with drug resistance come into being. The fungus can not be neglected as the pathogen in chronic suppurative otitis media.