• Malignant external otitis is a very serious variant of external ear infection. It is caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, affects elderly diabetic patients, and bears high mortality. The disease may occur in children in whom malnutrition and anemia create suitable conditions for P aeruginosa infection. The disease differs in children, it invades the middle ear and facial nerve in its intratemporal course.
The treatment should consist of large doses of carbenicillin sodium and gentamicin sulfate, together with the thorough surgical debridement of all infected tissues.