To assess the efficacy and safety of two different modes of administration, external ear canal filling and smearing, in the treatment of otomycosis.

A computerised search of relevant published studies in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases that include randomised controlled trials or clinically controlled trials on the same drug in different modes of administration for the treatment of otomycosis.

Seven studies with 934 patients were included. The filled group had a higher clinical efficacy (relative risk = 1.18, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.24, p < 0.0001) and a lower recurrence rate (relative risk = 0.29, 95 per cent CI 0.18–0.47, p < 0.0001) compared with the smear group, and there was no significant difference in the adverse effects (relative risk = 0.61, 95 per cent CI 0.34–1.12, p = 0.11).

Current evidence suggests that the efficacy of the delivery modality of the external auditory canal filling treatment is significantly better than external auditory canal smearing.

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of 1 per cent and 0.01 per cent peracetic acid as an antifungal agent in animal otomycosis.

After creating a superficial scratch in the external auditory canal of guinea pigs, a suspension of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus and candida were inoculated into the ears of the animals. After otomycosis, the effect of 1 per cent or 0.01 per cent peracetic acid on otomycosis was evaluated by otomicroscopy and culture at 10 days post-treatment and compared with 2 per cent acetic acid as the control.

A 10-day treatment with 1 per cent peracetic acid and 2 per cent acetic acid (control) showed normal otomicroscopy and negative cultures compared with 0.01 per cent peracetic acid. Drug sedimentation or other side effects in the external auditory canal or tympanic membrane were not observed during treatment with peracetic acid.

The findings of this study confirm that the treatment of otomycosis with 1 per cent peracetic acid in an animal model is beneficial and may be a novel therapeutic treatment for otomycosis.

Fungal otitis externa is prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical climates; however, over the past two decades, there has been a reported increase in the prevalence of otomycosis in paediatric patients from more temperate climates. This study aimed to review the children diagnosed with otomycosis at the University Hospital Limerick with reference to frequency, causative organism, predisposing factors and management.

A retrospective review was conducted of paediatric patients from 2001 to 2015. Patients with positive fungal ear swabs and a diagnosis of otomycosis were identified.

Ninety-three patients were positive for candida (mean age, 5.8 years), 10 patients were positive for aspergillus (mean age, 9.1 years) and 1 patient had mixed fungal infection containing both fungi. There was a positive correlation between a diagnosis of otomycosis and prior treatment with topical fluoroquinolones (r = 0.8; p < 0.01).

The incidence of otomycosis has been increasing since 2001, which correlates with an increase in the use of topical fluoroquinolones. Previous studies identify aspergillus as the commonest causative fungi; however, this study found that candida was the commonest isolated fungi in the paediatric population.

To compare the clinical effectiveness and adverse events for 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol versus 1 per cent clotrimazole solution in the treatment of otomycosis.

A total of 120 otomycosis patients were randomly assigned to receive either 1 per cent clotrimazole solution (intervention group) or 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol (control group) at the Khon Kaen Hospital ENT out-patient department. Treatment effectiveness was determined based on the otomicroscopic absence of fungus one week after therapy, following a single application of treatment.

After 1 week of treatment, there were data for 109 participants, 54 in the clotrimazole group and 55 in the boric acid group. The absolute difference in cure rates between 1 per cent clotrimazole solution and 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol was 17.9 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval, 2.3 to 33.5; p = 0.028) and the number needed to treat was 6 (95 per cent confidence interval, 3.0 to 43.4). Adverse events for the two agents were comparable.

One per cent clotrimazole solution is more effective than 3 per cent boric acid in 70 per cent alcohol for otomycosis treatment.

Voriconazole is a broad-spectrum azole exhibiting strong anti-Aspergillus activity and good long-term tolerance. However, the evidence for voriconazole efficacy against refractory Aspergillus otomycosis is weak.

We reviewed the medical records of patients with Aspergillus otomycosis treated with voriconazole from January 2008 to June 2012 in a Taiwanese regional hospital. Demographic data and information regarding underlying diseases, clinical features, treatment and outcome were assessed.

In total, 14 cases of Aspergillus otomycosis were treated with voriconazole, including 5 patients with Aspergillus invasive otitis externa. All patients had failed to respond to local treatment, antibiotics or topical agents. One case was lost to follow up. The symptoms of two patients recurred after voriconazole treatment: one patient received a second 12-week course of voriconazole and was cured; and symptoms of the other patient recurred after a second 12-week course of voriconazole, leading to surgical debridement. The remaining 11 patients were cured by voriconazole treatment without extensive surgical debridement.

This study demonstrates that voriconazole can be a very effective and convenient therapeutic option for the management of refractory Aspergillus otomycosis.