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Background: Otitis media is an infection of the middle ear, usually associated with upper respiratory tract infection. Although, it can occur at any age, but 60-80% of children had recurrent otitis media. Early diagnosis and management may avoid serious complications like, brain abscess, meningitis, lateral sinus thrombosis and subdural abscess.Objectives: To determine the isolation rate of proteus species from patients with otitis media in Baquba city, and to explore the effects of certain relevant factors.Materials and methods: Ear swabs were collected from 270 patients with acute or chronic otitis media attending the out-patient clinic of Baquba General Hospital. Information regarding age, sex, residence, and smoking were collected by special form pre-constructed for this purpose. Isolation and identification of Proteus species based on standard bacteriological criteria. All data were statistically analyzed. Results: Proteus species were isolated from 35(12.9%). The P.mirabilis constitute 28 and P.vulgaris 7. Bacterial growth other than proteus constitute 75.9%, while swabs with no bacterial growth was 11.1%. The mean age of patients was 25.9±16.8. The isolation rate from males (17.8%) was higher than that of females (8.5%). The highest isolation rate (18.4%) was found in 10-19 years age group, while the lowest isolation rate (6.6%) was recorded in those <5 years old. Residents of rural areas recorded highest number of Proteus species isolates when compared to those of urban areas (13.3% vs 11.9%). Chronic OM cases showed higher isolation rate (18.6%) of Proteus spp than that of acute cases (6.9%). Additionally, the isolation rate (21.1%) of Proteus spp. from smokers with OM was higher than that of negatively smokers (14.6%) and non- smokers (9.9%).Conclusion: Higher isolation rate of Proteus species were recovered from patients with chronic

Otitis media --- Proteus --- Upper respiratory tract nfection