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Antimicrobial sensitivity in microorganisms isolated from canine otitis externa.

It is important to test the antimicrobial sensitivity of the aetiological agents of otitis externa before starting treatment in order to prevent the development of antibiotic resistance in the microorganisms. In this study the sensitivity patterns in bacteria and yeasts isolated as aetiological agents from otitis externa were analysed. Antifungal and antibacterial activity tests were done using the automated system ATB Fungus and the classic diffusion test respectively. The azole compounds had the greatest antifungal properties, while beta-lactams had the strongest antibiotic activity. This study reflects the increasing importance of sensitivity tests in chronic otitis externa due to the increasing antimicrobial resistances in bacteria and yeasts. If it is necessary to initiate an empiric treatment before the results of the antimicrobial test, the application of miconazole or econazole for yeasts and oxacillin or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid against bacteria is recommended.

Amphotericin B↗

Otitis externa malignant. A case report and review of literature.

Otitis externa malignant (OEM) is a virulent infection if it is not diagnosed and treated promptly. Its mortality rate was reported to be 53% when there is associated facial nerve paralysis. It usually affects elderly diabetic patients, who present with deep-seated pain and other features of non-resolving otitis externa. It is mostly caused by Pseudomonas (P) aeruginosa and the treatment of choice is anti-Pseudomonas antibiotic. A 64-year-old diabetic male patient is described who presented with left ear pain and discharge for two months and did not respond to ordinary treatment. The patient also noticed a progressive facial weakness on the same side. The clinical presentation, investigations, treatment and follow-up of the OEM are discussed on the basis of our case and the review of the literature. The diagnosis of OEM is based on high index of suspicion and confirmed by histopathologic changes and radionuclide studies. Gallium 67 citrate scan is a sensitive way to diagnose and follow up the regression of the disease in response to the medical treatment. Ciprofloxacin is the treatment of choice; however, it has to be in accordance to culture and sensitivity results.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

Microbiology of otitis externa.

Microbiologic and clinical data from 26 patients with otitis externa were prospectively evaluated. Specimens were processed for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Bacterial growth was noted in 23 specimens. A total of 33 aerobic and 2 anaerobic bacteria were recovered. Aerobic bacteria only were isolated in 21 (91%) patients, anaerobic bacteria only in 1 (4%), and mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in 1 (4%). The most common isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (14 instances), Staphylococcus aureus (7), Acinetobacter calcoaceticus (2), Proteus mirabilis (2), Enterococcus faecalis (2), Bacteroides fragilis (1), and Peptostreptococcus magnus (1). One isolate was recovered in 13 (57%) patients, 2 isolates in 8 (35%), and 3 isolates in 2 (9%). These data illustrate the polymicrobial nature of otitis externa in about half of the patients and the role of anaerobic bacteria in 8% of them. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the therapeutic implications of these findings.

Adolescent↗

Radiological and radionuclide investigation of malignant otitis externa.

This study looks at case series of malignant otitis externa, outlines detailed structural (radiological) and functional (radionuclide) investigations, and discusses their utility in the initial diagnosis, patient management and follow up of this condition. Patients were investigated by computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), two-phase planar and single-photon emission tomography (SPECT), technetium-99m methylenediphosphonate bone scans, gallium-67 planar and SPECT scans, and indium-111 or technetium-99m labelled WBC planar and SPECT scintigraphy. We discuss example case reports with the various radiological and scintigraphic findings and outline a protocol for rational investigation. It is concluded that CT and/or MRI should be supported by routine SPECT bone imaging for initial diagnosis of malignant otitis externa. Routine SPECT bone imaging further supplemented by gallium scintigraphy should be the investigation of choice in the follow up of these cases for assessing response to treatment and disease recurrence.

Aged↗

Sensitivity and spectrum of bacterial isolates in infectious otitis externa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the spectrum and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of organisms from aural swabs taken from cases of infectious otitis externa. DESIGN: Descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, from May 2002 to April 2003. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four patients, diagnosed clinically as infectious otitis externa without concomitant suppurative otitis media, perforated tympanic membrane or otomycosis, were selected for the study. Samples of pus from external auditory canal were taken on sterile cotton swabs and were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey Agar for 24 to 48 hours. Sensitivity was tested and interpreted by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method of grading zones of inhibition. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty four subjects were cultured. Sixteen samples showed no growth. One hundred and eight specimens yielded growth of bacteria. No specimen revealed multiple organisms. Staphylococcus aureus was found in 38%, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in other 38%. Others included Proteus, Enterococci, Klebsiella, and E. coli. Majority of organisms were resistant to co-trimoxazole, amoxicillin and erythromycin, while 100% were sensitive to imipenem. Sensitivity to enoxacin was 96%, Ninety-two percent were sensitive to ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin. CONCLUSION: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common bacterial isolates. Both were sensitive to fluoroquinolones. The latter can be used empirically for treatment of acute infectious otitis externa.

Adolescent↗

Diagnosis and medical treatment of otitis externa in the dog and cat.

Otitis externa is no longer viewed as an isolated disease of the ear canal, but is a syndrome that is often a reflection of underlying dermatological disease. Causes are classified as predisposing (increase the risk of otitis); primary (directly induce otitis), secondary (contribute to otitis only in an abnormal ear or in conjunction with predisposing factors) and perpetuating (result from inflammation and pathology in ear, prevent resolution of otitis). Common primary causes include foreign bodies, hypersensitivity (particularly atopy and food allergy), keratinisation disorders (most commonly primary idiopathic seborrhoea and hypothyroidism) and earmites, particularly in cats. A systematic diagnostic procedure is required to identify causes and contributing factors. This should include history, clinical examination, otoscopy and cytology in all cases and culture and sensitivity as well as otitis media assessment and biopsy in severe and recurrent cases. Ancillary tests may be required depending on the underlying cause. Treatment consists of identifying and addressing predisposing and primary factors; cleaning the ear canal; topical therapy; systemic therapy where necessary; client education; follow-up; and preventive and maintenance therapy as required.

Animals↗

Use of infrared thermometry and effect of otitis externa on external ear canal temperature in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To compare infrared thermometry with rectal thermometry as a method of assessing core body temperature in dogs and to assess the effect of otitis externa on external ear canal temperature (EECT). DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 650 dogs without history or clinical signs of otitis externa and 85 dogs with recurrent or chronic otitis externa. PROCEDURE: Rectal temperature was measured, using a mercury thermometer. External ear canal temperature was measured, using an infrared tympanic thermometer. RESULTS: Measurements of body temperature at the 2 sites did not agree. Sensitivity and specificity of infrared thermometry in detecting fever, as determined by rectal thermometry, were 69.7 and 84.6%, respectively. Use of methods to predict rectal temperature from EECT did not improve the accuracy of infrared thermometry. Otitis externa significantly influenced EECT. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Use of infrared thermometry as a replacement for rectal thermometry in assessing core body temperature in dogs was unsatisfactory. The 2 methods for measuring body temperature were not interchangeable in dogs.

Animals↗

Necrotizing otitis externa during induction therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

In three children who were receiving acute lymphoblastic leukemia induction therapy and were severely neutropenic, necrotizing otitis externa developed. Two patients had a probing maneuver to their ear canal. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated in heavy growth from the external canal of three patients and other tissues of one patient. Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from the ear canal and tissues of one patient and Streptococcus faecalis from the ear canal of another patient. Necrotizing otitis externa resolved in two patients after 2 weeks of intravenous antibiotics, debridement, and resolution of neutropenia. One patient required prolonged intravenous antibiotics and several surgical procedures. The occurrence of necrotizing otitis externa in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and severe neutropenia, the association of Gram-positive cocci with necrotizing otitis externa, and the importance of protecting anatomic barriers like the external ear canal in immunocompromised patients are emphasized.

Child↗

Relapsing malignant otitis externa successfully treated with ciprofloxacin.

Two cases are presented, both patients with advanced relapsing malignant otitis externa. The antibiotic ciprofloxacin has strong anti-pseudomonal activity. It was given orally for six months to both patients, following administration of the traditional parenteral antibiotic courses, and in each case the disease has been extinguished. We therefore recommend that the management of patients shown to have malignant otitis externa should include strict diabetic control, regular local aural toilet, gentamicin ear drops and a six week course of parenteral antipseudomonal antibiotic agents (usually gentamicin and azlocillin) together with metronidazole to cover any anaerobic element in the infection. This regimen should be followed by a six month course of oral ciprofloxacin (750 mg b.d.). Indium scans should be used to monitor recovery. We believe that this regimen can significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from malignant otitis externa with cranial nerve involvement.

Aged↗

Fungal malignant otitis externa due to Scedosporium apiospermum.

Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is an infection of the external auditory canal that invades the skull base. Aspergillus species fungi were the pathological organism in 21 of 23 reported cases of fungal MOE. We report on a 21-year-old man with end-stage acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and fungal MOE caused by Scedosporium apiospermum. Fungal MOE is most common in patients with end-stage AIDS and hematologic malignancies. Granulation tissue is not a common finding in these patients, and the infectious process often starts in the mastoid air cells or middle ear space, as opposed to the external auditory canal. Surgical debridement and amphotericin B are the mainstays of therapy; resolution of the infection depends greatly on the severity of the underlying disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Fresh water swimming as a risk factor for otitis externa: a case-control study.

A case-control study was conducted in which the amount and sites (fresh-water lakes and rivers, chlorinated pools, or the ocean) of recent swimming by 105 patients with otitis externa were compared with that of 239 controls. Swimming during the week prior to the visit was strongly associated with otitis externa. When the 80 cases and 127 controls with a history of recent swimming were compared, otitis externa was positively associated with the amount of swimming during the preceding week. Otitis externa was also positively associated with swimming in fresh water compared with ocean or pool swimming with the magnitude of this association being more pronounced at higher levels of exposure.

Adult↗

Evolving resistant pseudomonas to ciprofloxacin in malignant otitis externa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there has been an increase in ciprofloxacin-resistant pseudomonas malignant otitis externa, and if this has increased the morbidity of the disease. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Twenty-eight patients over 13 years. RESULTS: The records of a total of 28 patients who were admitted between 1988 and 2001 with the diagnosis of malignant otitis externa were reviewed. Seven patients had ciprofloxacin-resistant pseudomonas on their hospital culture and sensitivity test. Five of the 7 resistant cases appeared in the last 3 years, as opposed to 2 of the 7 who appeared in the 10 years before that period. In our series, there is a significant trend developing over time of pseudomonas resistant to treatment with ciprofloxacin. No increased morbidity or mortality was found in the ciprofloxacin-resistant pseudomonas group compared with the remaining patients who were sensitive to ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, resistance to ciprofloxacin in patients with malignant otitis externa is increasing over time. This may have an impact on the relatively successful outpatient treatment of these patients in the past decade. A return to inpatient or outpatient intravenous treatment with third-generation cephalosporins/antipseudomonal penicillins and more frequent debridement will be required in these patients.

Aged↗

Prospective randomised single-blind controlled trial of glacial acetic acid versus glacial acetic acid, neomycin sulphate and dexamethasone spray in otitis externa and infected mastoid cavities.

OBJECTIVES: The literature reports the merits of antibacterial, antibiotic and steroid agents in treating otological infections but no controlled clinical trial has directly compared 2% glacial acetic acid (EarCalm; Stafford-Miller Ltd, Brentford, UK) against 2% glacial acetic acid, 0.1% dexamethasone and 3250 U/ml of neomycin sulphate (Otomize; Stafford-Miller Ltd) in the treatment of otitis externa and infected mastoid cavities. DESIGN: Prospective, single-blind randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatients, Derby Royal Infirmary, Derby, UK. PATIENTS: Emergency and GP referrals with acute otitis externa (n = 53) and infected mastoid cavities (n = 56). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Otoscopy was performed at initial randomisation and then at 2 and 4 weeks, the ear assessed for active and inactive disease. RESULTS: Patients with active otitis externa, 71% (15/21) resolved with glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and of neomycin sulphate after 2 weeks, increasing to 86% (18/21) after 4 weeks treatment. Patients on glacial acetic acid had only 38% (12/32) resolution after 4 weeks (P < 0.0005). Two per cent glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and neomycin sulphate resolved only 30% (8/27) of infected mastoid cavities compared to only 10% (3/29) on glacial acetic acid (P < 0.07). A further 2 weeks treatment this increased to 67%, (18/27) with glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and neomycin sulphate and 48% (14/29) with glacial acetic acid. These results are not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and neomycin sulphate is significantly more effective in treating otitis externa when compared with glacial acetic acid. This effect failed to be significant in the infected mastoid cavities group. We therefore recommend that in conjunction with aural toilet, antibiotic/steroid combination is more effective than an antibacterial agent for otitis externa. Larger numbers of infected mastoid cavities are required to be studied.

Acetic Acid↗

A worrying development in the microbiology of otitis externa.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is causing growing concern in hospitals. There has been a steady increase in the number of cases of nosocomial MRSA infections recently and this will no doubt apply to otitis externa, one of the most common ENT infections. The total number of cases of otitis externa presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department over a 3-month period was recorded and the offending microbes cultured and tested for drug sensitivities. Although Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most frequent organism, 30% of patients grew S. aureus. Of these, 6% (15 patients) were MRSA cultures. The contact histories, antibiotic sensitivities and treatment of these 15 patients were studied. Recommendations as a result of this study include the routine culture and sensitivity in otitis externa and where MRSA is cultured, a full contact history should be elicited and appropriate precautions taken. Specifically, a history of hospital contact should be sought. Treatments used successfully in the treatment of MRSA otitis externa were aural toilet and fucidic acid-betamathasone 0.5% wicks where the organism was gentamycin-resistant (GMRSA), whereas aural toilet with aminoglycoside-steroid drops was sufficient if it was gentamycin-sensitive.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Antimicrobial prescribing for otitis externa in children.

We describe the patterns of antimicrobial prescribing and trends in disease occurrence among children with otitis externa using the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey from 1995 to 2000. Oral antimicrobial therapy for otitis externa is more likely to contribute to antimicrobial resistance than is topical antimicrobial therapy and is rarely indicated. Thirty-nine percent of visits resulted in a prescription for topical antibiotics, and 25% of visits resulted in a prescription for oral antibiotics. Inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing for otitis externa occurs frequently.

Administration, Oral↗

Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of coagulase positive staphylococci isolated from healthy dogs and dogs suffering from otitis externa.

A total of 67 strains of coagulase positive staphylococci isolated from healthy dogs and dogs suffering from otitis externa were studied. Twenty-two isolates were from healthy dogs (five from hound dogs and 17 from companion dogs) and 45 from dogs suffering otitis externa (14 from hound dogs and 31 from companion dogs). Presumptive identification was attempted using the following tests: production of acetoin, anaerobic utilization of mannitol, acid production from mannitol, presence of beta-galactosidase, and growth on P agar supplemented with different concentrations of acriflavine. Susceptibility of staphylococci to 16 antibiotics was determined. Most effective antibiotics were imipenem, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin, tobramycin, gentamicin and marbofloxacin. Penicillin, ampicillin and polymyxin B showed the lowest activity. There were no significant differences in antimicrobial susceptibility among isolates from healthy dogs and dogs suffering from otitis externa.

Animals↗

Total ear canal ablation combining bulla osteotomy and curettage in dogs with chronic otitis externa and media.

Ear canal ablation combining bulla osteotomy and curettage was performed on 44 dogs (n = 72 ears). Indications for the procedure included one or more of the following: chronic nonresponsive otitis externa and/or media (n = 71), tumor in the horizontal portion of the ear canal (n = 1), failed lateral ear resection (n = 11), ossified auricular cartilages secondary to chronic otitis externa (n = 22), failed previous total ear canal ablation (n = 1), and otitis interna (n = 1). In 40 dogs, the surgery was successful in alleviating all clinical signs of otitis externa and media. During the immediate postoperative period, 2 dogs died of causes unrelated to otitis. Complications related to the surgery developed in 9 of the surviving 42 dogs. Ultimately, 95% (40 of the surviving 42) of the dogs were cured by use of this procedure. Surgery successfully resolved the original problems in 97% (66 of 68) of the surgically treated ears of these dogs.

Animals↗

Ulcerative otitis externa responsive to immunosuppressive therapy in two dogs.

Two middle-aged dogs were presented with bilateral severe ulcerative otitis externa without previous history of disease or evidence of other skin disease. Based on the exclusion of microbial infection and other primary causes, histopathological findings and response to immunomodulatory treatment, a diagnosis of presumed immune-mediated ulcerative otitis externa was made in both cases. However, the two cases differed with regard to their histopathological characteristics and the course of the disease. This report indicates that primary ulcerative disease needs to be considered in cases of ulcerative otitis externa which are unresponsive to appropriate antimicrobial therapy.

Animals↗