Research letter
Open access CC BY NC ND
Volume 224 - Issue 3
Malignant Otitis Externa in Central Australia: A 15-Year Retrospective Review Between 2009 and 2024
Authors: George P. Drewett, Mini Jacob, Belle Culhane, Amy Booth, Connor Wright, Sajan Thomas, Anjali Abraham
Correspondence: george.drewett@nh.org.au
Med J Aust 2026 || doi: 10.5694/mja2.70166
Published online: 16 March 2026
Published online: 16 March 2026
Abstract
We performed a 15-year retrospective audit of all cases of malignant otitis externa (MOE) referred to Alice Springs Hospital in Central Australia from 2009 to 2024, the largest Australian series of MOE. Data on demographics, risk factors, microbiological culture results, management and outcomes were collected, identifying 64 cases of MOE, with the incidence increasing over time. The incidence of MOE was associated with Indigenous status and the presence of diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus and fungal pathogens predominate as causal agents. Complications and mortality were common.
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