What Researchers Did
Researchers reported two cases of skull base osteomyelitis in elderly, immunosuppressed patients previously treated for COVID-19.
What They Found
They found that two elderly, immunosuppressed patients (with diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure) developed treatment-resistant external otitis and skull base osteomyelitis after COVID-19. In both cases, neither topical nor intravenous antibiotics were effective, necessitating referrals for hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
Canadian patients with a history of COVID-19 who experience persistent ear discharge should seek prompt medical attention. Clinicians should consider skull base osteomyelitis as a potential diagnosis in such cases and pursue early imaging.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection as it reports on cases from another country.
Study Limitations
A significant limitation of this study is its reliance on only two case reports, which limits generalizability.