Otomycosis: a clinical and mycological study

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The term otomycosis is used to describe fungal infection of ear i.e. external auditory canal, eardrum. This condition appears as a primary infection or develops along with external bacterial infections as a results of antibiotic therapy. This study was designed to determine the clinical symptoms and fungal flora of otomycosis cases.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> A total 100 (53% males, 47% females) clinically diagnosed otomycosis cases between 06-70 years were included. The external auditory meatus debris was collected by sterile swabs and sent to the microbial laboratory investigations. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Highest prevalence was seen in the age group 21-30 years. Itching in the ear was commonest symptom in 89%, followed by ear ache. Positive fungal growth was seen in 94% cases. <em>Aspergillus</em> was the common isolate in 63% cases, followed by <em>Aspergillus niger</em> with <em>Candida albicans</em> (10%), <em>penicillium</em> in 4% cases and <em>Candida</em> in 3% cases. Coagulase negative <em>Staphylococcus </em>was seen in 32% cases, followed by <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> (12%), <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (16%), <em>E. coli</em> (11%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The genus most commonly involved in otomycosis is <em>Aspergillus</em> followed by <em>Candida</em><strong>. </strong>Clinical improvement was seen in 91% of cases and most of the cases responded satisfactorily with topical clotrimazole. </p>

Otomycosis-Clinical and Mycological Spectrum

“…In our study itching in the ear was the commonest symptom in 57.5% of the patients followed by pain (31.8%) in ear and hearing loss (27.2%), similar findings was found in other studies 19 . The fungus growth mixed with the epithelial debris and cerumen forms characteristic mycotic plug which gives rise to the symptom of blocked ear and hearing loss.…”

Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern in Otomycosis among Patients Attending a Tertiary Healthcare Institution in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

“…The temperature and humidity of external auditory canal is usually conducive for growth of Aspegillus sp. This could be one of the reasons for its dominance as etiologic agent for otomycosis [18]. A striking result in this study was coinfection of Candida albicans and Penicillium sp.…”

“…This is in agreement with the result obtained from this study. However, Fasunla et al [16], Nazeer et al, [17] and Singh et al [18] reported the dominance of Aspergillus sp. in the ear swab of otomycosis patients.…”

Present Scenarios of Otomycosis in Rajshahi City of Bangladesh

“…In our study the incidence was very low (12 which was 5.1%) in the agegroup 21-40 years which is called early youth. According to Aneja et al [1], Fasunla et al [7], Singh et al [26] and Pontes et al [22] otomycosis was observed more often between the age group 21-40 years old and had a higher incident in females than males. In case of age group our findings do not correlate but gender group matches between the studies.…”