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
How to use ear swabs when managing ear infections
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
Kia ora and welcome to New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa
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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.