How to use ear swabs when managing ear infections

+Summer Hiatus

In print

Practice + From the lab

How to use ear swabs when managing ear infections

Michael Addidle

Monday 30 December 2024, 12:30 PM

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

We are on our summer break and the editorial office is closed until 13 January. In the meantime, please enjoy our Summer Hiatus series, in which our journalists curate an eclectic mix from our news and clinical archives throughout the year, The Conversation and other publications we share content with. Please note the comment function has been turned off while we are away. Happy reading!

This article was first published online on 3 July.

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

Investigations

Infectious Disease

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.

Summer Hiatus archive

How to Treat

+How to treat

FREE READ

COPD: Prevent, treat and comfort

Respiratory physician Lutz Beckert considers chronic obstructive pulmonary disease management, including the prevention of COPD, the importance of smoking cessation and pulmonary rehabilitation, and the lifesaving potential of addressing treatable traits. He also discusses the logic of inhaler therapy, moving from single therapy to dual and triple therapy when indicated, as well as other aspects of management

Wednesday 26 March 2025, 12:50 AM