Otitis externa laboratory findings
|
Otitis externa Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Otitis externa laboratory findings On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Otitis externa laboratory findings |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Otitis externa laboratory findings |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.; Tarek Nafee, M.D. [2]
Overview
Laboratory findings consistent with diagnosis of all forms of otitis externa include evidence of bacterial or fungal infection. Findings may also include markers of inflammation such as an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and elevated white blood cell count.
Laboratory Findings
Bacterial
Otitis externa from a suspected bacterial infection may be determined by the following tests:
- Culture of the ear canal to determine if the infection is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus.[1]
- This test will be performed in the event that the symptoms do not resolve with the treatment and the otitis externa becomes recurrent.
- Gram stain test: If the cause is determined to be bacterial, the gram-stain test will determine whether the cause is Psuedomonas aeruginosa (Gram negative) or Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive):[2]
- Real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect and determine the exact bacterial pathogen[3][4]
Fungal
Otitis externa from a suspected fungal infection will be determined by the following tests:
- Culture of the ear canal to determine if the infection is caused by Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, or Candida albicans[5]
- Immunofluorescent microscopy may reveal the following results:[6]
- Fungal hyphae
- Arthrospores
- Arthroconidia
- Real-time polymerase chain reaction to detect and determine the exact fungal pathogen.[7]
Common Laboratory Findings
Complete blood count
- A complete blood count test performed on otitis externa patients may reveal abnormal white blood cell counts.
Inflammatory markers
Otitis externa patients may display the following findings on inflammatory marker tests:
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP are commonly elevated in cases of malignant necrotizing otitis externa[8]
References
- ↑ Llor, C.; McNulty, C. A. M.; Butler, C. C. (2014). "Ordering and interpreting ear swabs in otitis externa". BMJ. 349 (sep01 2): g5259–g5259. doi:10.1136/bmj.g5259. ISSN 1756-1833.
- ↑ Beveridge TJ (2001). "Use of the gram stain in microbiology". Biotech Histochem. 76 (3): 111–8. PMID 11475313.
- ↑ Khan AA, Cerniglia CE (1994). "Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from clinical and environmental samples by amplification of the exotoxin A gene using PCR". Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60 (10): 3739–45. PMC 201881. PMID 7986047.
- ↑ Brakstad OG, Aasbakk K, Maeland JA (1992). "Detection of Staphylococcus aureus by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the nuc gene". J. Clin. Microbiol. 30 (7): 1654–60. PMC 265359. PMID 1629319.
- ↑ Kaur R, Mittal N, Kakkar M, Aggarwal AK, Mathur MD (2000). "Otomycosis: a clinicomycologic study". Ear Nose Throat J. 79 (8): 606–9. PMID 10969470.
- ↑ "Aspergillus Otomycosis | Aspergillus & Aspergillosis Website".
- ↑ Van Burik JA, Myerson D, Schreckhise RW, Bowden RA (1998). "Panfungal PCR assay for detection of fungal infection in human blood specimens". J. Clin. Microbiol. 36 (5): 1169–75. PMC 104793. PMID 9574670.
- ↑ Bovo R, Benatti A, Ciorba A, Libanore M, Borrelli M, Martini A (2012). "Pseudomonas and Aspergillus interaction in malignant external otitis: risk of treatment failure". Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 32 (6): 416–9. PMC 3552534. PMID 23349563.