Fungal Infections of the External Auditory Canal and Emerging Pathogens

Erika McCarty Walsh; Matthew B Hanson

doi:10.1016/j.otc.2023.06.010

Fungal Infections of the External Auditory Canal and Emerging Pathogens

Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2023 Oct;56(5):909-918. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2023.06.010. Epub 2023 Aug 7.

Authors

Erika McCarty Walsh¹, Matthew B Hanson²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. Electronic address: ewalsh@uabmc.edu.
² Department of Otolaryngology, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, USA.

PMID: 37553272
DOI: 10.1016/j.otc.2023.06.010

Abstract

Fungal infections of the external auditory canal can range from common (otomycosis) to life threatening (necrotizing otitis externa). Proper identification of fungal pathogens is necessary to guide appropriate therapy, and a high index of suspicion for fungal causes of ear canal disease is critical. Fungal pathogens may be an especially important cause of ear canal disease in certain populations, including patients with diabetes, patients recently treated with antibiotics, and immunosuppressed patients. Opportunistic fungal infections of the ear canal are an emerging concern.

Keywords: Fungal otitis externa; Malignant otitis externa; Necrotizing otitis externa; Otomycosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Ear Canal
Ear Diseases*
Humans
Mycoses* / complications
Mycoses* / diagnosis
Mycoses* / therapy
Otitis Externa* / diagnosis
Otitis Externa* / etiology
Otitis Externa* / therapy

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents