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Necrotising external otitis caused by Aspergillus wentii : a case report
Author(s) -
Halsey C.,
Lumley H.,
Luckit J.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2009.01815.x
Subject(s) - otitis , medicine , pathogen , opportunistic pathogen , aspergillus , dermatology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , biology , pseudomonas aeruginosa , surgery , bacteria , genetics
Summary Necrotising external otitis (NEO) is a destructive, potentially fatal, infection usually seen in elderly diabetics or the immunocompromised. The commonest causative organism is Pseudomonas but immunocompromised patients are additionally susceptible to opportunistic infections. Here we describe the first reported case of NEO caused by a previously unknown human pathogen – Aspergillus wentii . A review of the literature reveals that fungal NEO is associated with a high rate of cranial nerve palsies suggesting that infections are not being treated rapidly enough to prevent morbidity. Fungal infection should be considered early in immunocompromised patients and microbiological diagnosis should be obtained wherever possible.