title: The evolving treatment of necrotizing external otitis.
abstract: Necrotizing external otitis, or malignant external otitis, as initially described by Chandler, is a life-threatening Pseudomonas infection of the external auditory canal and skull base, which occurs most commonly in elderly diabetic patients. Historically, radical surgical intervention was the primary method of treatment. The treatment of choice has shifted during the past 20 years to aggressive systemic antibiotic therapy, with surgery reserved for those patients whose disease is resistant to medical therapy. Using this approach, 19 patients with necrotizing external otitis were treated at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation during the past 8 years. A 90% rate of cure was obtained. The diagnostic approach to patients suspected of having necrotizing external otitis, a classification scheme defining the extent of disease, delivery of systemic antibiotic therapy, indications for surgical intervention, and overall effectiveness of treatment are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communicative Disorders, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195-5034.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Rehm
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kinney
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009336:Necrosis; D010032:Otitis Externa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D010406:Penicillins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010406:Penicillins