Ear Infections and North Florida Caves???

[divindoc]

Actually, systemic antibiotics WILL work for an outer ear infection, if they are the correct ones. We generally do not use them simply because the drops work and do not give a dose to the entire body, thus avoiding gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea or colitis.

The typical organism for otitis externa is a pseudomonas species, and they are rarely, if ever, sensitive to amoxacillin. They are sensitive to neosporin (which is the cortisporin solution often prescribed) and to fluoroquinolones like Cipro.

It is highly unlikely to get bacteria into the middle ear via the Eustachian tube, unless you are doing some extremely forcible equalization. More likely is to get some barotrauma and create a rich culture medium which is seeded by normal bacterial flora, or via the bloodstream.

I have never had otitis externa, but I noted that when I came home from this last Florida trip, I had the foulest smelling earwax for about two weeks. There is SOMETHING nasty in that water!

What LCF said!

I'd also add - the high humidity in Fl. contributes to external ear infections significantly, as the ears don't readily dry out. People will get external otitis down here by just doing yardwork, or showering, and not getting the water out of the external ear canal. Use ear beer, as many have said, or the commercial equivalent SwimEar. And don't clean your ear canals with Qtips, bobby pins, or paper clips! Denuding the ear canal of protective wax and abrading the very thin skin of the external ear canal are major contributors to "swimmers ear".

[sskasser]

What LCF said!

<snip> And don't clean your ear canals with Qtips, bobby pins, or paper clips! Denuding the ear canal of protective wax and abrading the very thin skin of the external ear canal are major contributors to "swimmers ear".

Or car keys!

[Sludge]

thus avoiding gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea or colitis.

Didn't the Eagles sing a song about this? "Warm smell of colitis rising up through the air..."

[amphipod06]

Didn't the Eagles sing a song about this? "Warm smell of colitis rising up through the air..."

EEEEEEEWWWWWWW!!!! Russell, that is nasty!!! :-0

Dive safe,

Celia

[Me]

I have never had otitis externa, but I noted that when I came home from this last Florida trip, I had the foulest smelling earwax for about two weeks. There is SOMETHING nasty in that water!

Am I the only one who doesn't smell their ear wax???

[sea2summit]

Am I the only one who doesn't smell their ear wax???

I think it's like wine tasting you either get it or you don't.

[sskasser]

Am I the only one who doesn't smell their ear wax???

No! Definitely not! It's not in the 5 basic rules....I ain't doing it!

[MORGAN]

Didn't the Eagles sing a song about this? "Warm smell of colitis rising up through the air..."

ROFL! Spewed my tea!

Sludge - are you sure you've never worked in an ER?

There are some smells that are almost diagnostic on their own - like a GI bleed. As a colleague of mine once commented about a patient, in rhyme: "He's smellin' a melena."

Mike

[BabyDuck]

and that prostaglandin poop...

[Webmaster]

Actually, systemic antibiotics WILL work for an outer ear infection, if they are the correct ones. We generally do not use them simply because the drops work and do not give a dose to the entire body, thus avoiding gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea or colitis.

The typical organism for otitis externa is a pseudomonas species, and they are rarely, if ever, sensitive to amoxacillin. They are sensitive to neosporin (which is the cortisporin solution often prescribed) and to fluoroquinolones like Cipro.

It is highly unlikely to get bacteria into the middle ear via the Eustachian tube, unless you are doing some extremely forcible equalization. More likely is to get some barotrauma and create a rich culture medium which is seeded by normal bacterial flora, or via the bloodstream.

I have never had otitis externa, but I noted that when I came home from this last Florida trip, I had the foulest smelling earwax for about two weeks. There is SOMETHING nasty in that water!

Maybe I'm just doing forcibly. I've been accused of having oddly shaped eustachian tubes. The theory being that instead of draining right back out, if anything is introduced, it gives the beasties a place to linger.

I don't get ear infections other than diving, and most of mine have been middle ear infections. I've never had one diving in the ocean, even when doing several dives in a day.