Fungal Spectrum in Otomycosis Patients

ABSTRACT

Mycological analysis was carried out on debris, scraping or exudate samples from the external auditory canal(s) of 102 patients clinically suspected cases of otomycosis. The total number of samples taken from 102 patients were 108, of which 102 samples were obtained from one ear and 6 samples from the other ear. Predisposing factors contributing to such a presentation were dermatomycosis (51.22%), turban usage (29.26%), veil usage (14.63%) and swimming (4.88%). Only 82 (75.92%) samples were positive for the presence of fungal elements, of which 48(44.44%) specimens were smear and culture positive while 34(31.48%) were smear negative but culture positive. Males and females were almost equally affected, ratio being (1.11). Chief fungal isolates included Aspergillus niger (52.43%), Aspergillus fumigatus (34.14%), Candida albicans (11%), Candida pseudotropicalis (1.21%) and Mucor sp. (1.21%). Among 8 patients mixed fungal growth was obtained, while bacterial coinfection/ superinfection was detected in 14 cases.