What Researchers Did
The authors presented a case of a 76-year-old male with recurrent bilateral malignant otitis externa (MOE) and skull-base osteomyelitis.
What They Found
A 76-year-old male initially presented with right-sided recurrent malignant otitis externa and skull-base osteomyelitis, which was treated with aggressive antimicrobial therapy and multiple hyperbaric oxygen treatments. After resolution, he developed new left-sided MOE and skull-base involvement, which also resolved with repeat treatment, leading to a cure of the infection.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This case highlights the potential for rare, severe, and recurrent infections like malignant otitis externa to affect elderly patients. It underscores the importance of aggressive and prolonged treatment strategies, including antimicrobial therapy and hyperbaric oxygen, for complex skull-base infections.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
As a single case report, the findings are not generalizable to a broader patient population.