biostudies-literatureHodgson SHNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Wellcome Trust604-610https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9257435biostudies-literatureUnknown136(7)<h4>Background</h4>Necrotising otitis externa is a severe ear infection for which there are no established diagnostic or treatment guidelines.<h4>Method</h4>This study described clinical characteristics, management and outcomes for patients managed as necrotising otitis externa cases at a UK tertiary referral centre.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 58 (63 per cent) patients were classified as definite necrotising otitis externa cases, 31 (34 per cent) as probable cases and 3 (3 per cent) as possible cases. Median duration of intravenous and oral antimicrobial therapy was 6.0 weeks (0.49-44.9 weeks). Six per cent of patients relapsed a median of 16.4 weeks (interquartile range, 23-121) after stopping antimicrobials. Twenty-eight per cent of cases had complex disease. These patients were older (<i>p =</i> 0.042), had a longer duration of symptoms prior to imaging (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and higher C-reactive protein at diagnosis (<i>p =</i> 0.005). Despite longer courses of intravenous antimicrobials (23 <i>vs</i> 14 days<i>; p =</i> 0.032), complex cases were more likely to relapse (<i>p =</i> 0.016).<h4>Conclusion</h4>A standardised case-definition of necrotising otitis externa is needed to optimise diagnosis, management and research.The Journal of laryngology and otologyCharacteristics, management and outcome of a large necrotising otitis externa case series: need for standardised case definition.PMC9257435CL-2016-13-008110110/Z/15/ZOh KRamsden JDMartinez-Devesa PPretorius PMatthews PCSinclair VJSivapathasingam VNucken KAndersson MIArwyn-Jones JPerenyei MPendlebury STHodgson SHfalseCharacteristics, management and outcome of a large necrotising otitis externa case series: need for standardised case definition.<h4>Background</h4>Necrotising otitis externa is a severe ear infection for which there are no established diagnostic or treatment guidelines.<h4>Method</h4>This study described clinical characteristics, management and outcomes for patients managed as necrotising otitis externa cases at a UK tertiary referral centre.<h4>Results</h4>A total of 58 (63 per cent) patients were classified as definite necrotising otitis externa cases, 31 (34 per cent) as probable cases and 3 (3 per cent) as possible cases. Median duration of intravenous and oral antimicrobial therapy was 6.0 weeks (0.49-44.9 weeks). Six per cent of patients relapsed a median of 16.4 weeks (interquartile range, 23-121) after stopping antimicrobials. Twenty-eight per cent of cases had complex disease. These patients were older (<i>p =</i> 0.042), had a longer duration of symptoms prior to imaging (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and higher C-reactive protein at diagnosis (<i>p =</i> 0.005). Despite longer courses of intravenous antimicrobials (23 <i>vs</i> 14 days<i>; p =</i> 0.032), complex cases were more likely to relapse (<i>p =</i> 0.016).<h4>Conclusion</h4>A standardised case-definition of necrotising otitis externa is needed to optimise diagnosis, management and research.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Jul2025-04-18T22:59:35.235Z2025-04-07T10:43:33.791ZS-EPMC92574353504257810.1017/S002221512100462X