Otitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Three cases of otitis externa (OE) caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) are presented. The disease may have various clinical patterns ranging from aspecific features confined to the external ear, to the so-called "malignant" OE in which the severe, progressive infection invade soft tissues and bone and may led to meningitidis and death. Eldery and diabetics appear most vulnerable. The management of patients affected with OE from PA may be difficult due to the resistance of the pathogen to most antibiotics and to the high frequency of relapses also in patients responding to the treatment. Topical antiseptics (acetic acid, silver nitrate) and/or combination antibiotic therapy are the current treatments.