Otitis Externa Empiric Therapy

Updated: Dec 24, 2018
  • Author: Samuel Lee, MD, MS, FACEP; Chief Editor: Michael Stuart Bronze, MD  more...
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Empiric Therapy Regimens

Empiric therapeutic regimens for otitis externa are outlined below, including those for chronic otitis externa, uncomplicated bacterial infection, uncomplicated fungal infection, and malignant otitis externa. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]

Chronic otitis externa

See the list below:

  • Neomycin-polymyxin B–hydrocortisone otic 5 drops in the affected ear QID

Uncomplicated bacterial infection

See the list below:

  • Acetic Acid 2% with or without hydrocortisone otic 4 drops in the affected ear QID for 7d or 

  • Ciprofloxacin-hydrocortisone otic 3 drops in the affected ear BID for 7d or

  • Neomycin-polymyxin B–hydrocortisone otic 4 drops in the affected ear TID or QID for 10d or

  • Ofloxacin 0.3% otic 10 drops in the affected ear once daily for 7d

Uncomplicated fungal infection

See the list below:

  • Clotrimazole 1% otic 4 drops in the affected ear QID for 7d

Malignant otitis externa

See the list below: