Background:Otomycosis is an external ear canal infection caused by various fungi. This disease is prevalent in some tropical and subtropical regions or countries.Objectives:Given the crucial role of fungal agents in the treatment of the disease, the aim of the present study was to identify the fungi in ear canal of patients with otomycosis admitted to the hospitals in Babol City, Iran.Patients and Methods:This study included 56 patients with otomycosis. After removal of ear infectious samples, some of them were placed on the slides for direct examination and also a portion of them was plated on the Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloramphenicol for fungal growth. The slides were studied for the presence of fungal elements. Conventional methods were performed to determine fungal colonies.Results:Thirty-three patients (55.36%) were female and the rest were male. Fungal elements were observed in 11 cases (19.64%) in the direct examination, alone, and 45 specimens (80.36%) had fungi and bacteria combined. Septate mycelia, with 43 cases, had the most frequent fungal elements in direct examination. Aspergillus and Candida genera were the prevalent fungal colonies in culture media.Conclusions:According to the role of different genera of fungi in the process of otomycosis, much attention on the macroscopic and microscopic examination of the samples leads to special treatment decisions of a physician.

BackgroundAcute otitis externa, an inflammatory condition of the external auditory canal, is a common clinical problem in general medicine.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the etiology of otitis externa in patients from the Mazandaran province, north of Iran, which has a humid climate, as humidity can affect the prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms.Patients and MethodsThis cross-sectional study involved 116 patients with otitis externa. Two sets of samples were collected from their ears; one set was used for slide preparations, and the other for microbial culturing. After culturing, the microorganisms were identified by conventional methods.ResultsPatients between 35 and 44 years of age were most frequently affected (25.00%) by otitis externa (average age, 43.87 ± 18.08 years). Moreover, women (54.31%) were more frequently affected than men (45.69%). Upon direct investigation, Gram-positive bacilli were the most commonly identified microorganisms (22.41%). Furthermore, Bacillus spp. and coagulase-negative staphylococci (22.41% and 19.83%, respectively), were the organisms most frequently identified from cultures of otitis externa samples.ConclusionsDirect examination and culture showed that a mixed infection of fungi and bacteria is the most common cause of otitis externa. The present study revealed that Bacilli spp. were the most abundant bacteria isolated from patients with otitis externa. Thus, it is recommended that both organisms should be considered as etiologic agents in protocols for treatment of otitis externa.