How to use ear swabs when managing ear infections

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How to use ear swabs when managing ear infections

3 July 2024

Michael Addidle

Wednesday 3 July 2024, 12:20 AM

Anatomy of the human ear [Image: Lars Chittka and Axel Brockmann, CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons]

This article looks at how to best use the microbiology laboratory when managing otitis externa and chronic suppurative otitis media

Key points, Ear swabs are only required for selected cases of otitis externa, as outlined in this article. It is important to become familiar with the expectati, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Ear, Nose and Throat

References

BPACnz. Otitis media: a common childhood illness. 30 March 2023.
Llor C, McNulty CA, Butler CC. Ordering and interpreting ear swabs in otitis externa. BMJ 2014;349:g5259.
Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, et al. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2014;150(1 Suppl):S1–24.

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