Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025
07:42
An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
5.4K
Fungal Infections of the External Auditory Canal and Emerging Pathogens
Erika McCarty Walsh1, Matthew B Hanson2
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America
|August 8, 2023
Summary
Accurate identification of fungal ear infections is crucial for effective treatment. Opportunistic fungal infections are an emerging concern, particularly in diabetic, immunocompromised, or recently antibiotic-treated patients.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Fungal infections of the external auditory canal present a spectrum of severity, from common otomycosis to life-threatening necrotizing otitis externa.
- Accurate identification of fungal pathogens is essential for guiding appropriate therapeutic strategies.
- A high index of suspicion for fungal etiologies is critical in diagnosing ear canal diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To emphasize the importance of identifying fungal pathogens in external auditory canal infections.
- To highlight specific populations at increased risk for fungal ear infections.
- To address the growing concern of opportunistic fungal infections in the ear canal.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical presentations and diagnostic challenges in fungal otitis externa.
- Discussion of risk factors associated with fungal ear infections.
- Emphasis on clinical suspicion and diagnostic criteria.
Main Results:
- Fungal pathogens are significant causes of external auditory canal disease.
- Certain populations, including patients with diabetes, those on recent antibiotics, and immunosuppressed individuals, are at higher risk.
- Opportunistic fungal infections represent an emerging clinical concern.
Conclusions:
- Prompt and accurate identification of fungal pathogens is vital for managing external auditory canal infections.
- Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for fungal causes, especially in at-risk populations.
- The increasing prevalence of opportunistic fungal infections necessitates heightened awareness and diagnostic vigilance.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Skin Diseases and Disorders
3.9K
Skin is the first line of defense and encounters a variety of microbes. Some pathogenic strains are often the cause of a broad range of infections of the skin and other body systems. These conditions can affect people of all ages and may have different causes, including genetic factors, infections, autoimmune reactions, environmental factors, and lifestyle choices.
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. are responsible for many of the most common skin infections. However, many...
3.9K
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
41
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
41
01:28Fungal Phylum Ascomycota
41
Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
41
01:29Fungal Group Zygomycota
43
Zygomycota, previously classified as a distinct fungal group, are primarily terrestrial, saprophytic molds that play a crucial role as decomposers. Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that these fungi are now divided into two major clades — Mucoromycota, which includes many symbiotic species, and Zoopagomycota, which primarily consists of parasitic and pathogenic fungi. These groups exhibit distinct ecological roles and reproductive strategies while sharing key structural and...
43
01:16Anatomy of the Ear
8.5K
Auditory sensation, commonly called hearing, involves the transformation of sonic waves into neural impulses facilitated by the structures of the auditory organ. The prominent, flesh-like structure on the side of the head, called the auricle, directs sound waves towards the auditory canal. The auricle is often mislabeled as the pinna, a term more aligned with mobile structures like a feline's external ear. The auditory canal penetrates the cranium via the external auditory meatus of the...
8.5K
01:15Auditory Pathway
5.5K
Auditory pathways constitute the complex neural circuits responsible for transmitting and interpreting auditory information from the peripheral auditory system to the brain. Sound waves are initially captured by the outer ear, funneled through the ear canal, and reach the tympanic membrane (eardrum). These vibrations are transmitted via the middle ear's ossicles to the inner ear's cochlea.
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
5.5K