919 Retrospective Analysis of the Management of Necrotising Otitis Externa Patients: A Single Centre Study

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Introduction Necrotising otitis externa is an invasive, infection, with minimal evidence underpinning its diagnosis and management. It is often recognised late and undertreated many a times requiring prolonged inpatient hospital stays where provision for outpatient antibiotic administration and robust multi-disciplinary care is lacking. National ENT UK guideline on Necrotising Otitis Externa (NOE) was published in 2020, until which point management was based on local specialist opinions across the UK. Aim This work was undertaken with an aim to analyse the local management in our hospital following the local hospital guidelines adapted from national ENT UK guidelines (2020) shedding light on the morbidity and mortality of these patients. Method Data was collected retrospectively from 22 patient records in the period between April 2018- November 2022. Results We found that the mean age was 79 years. Recurrence rate was 13.6% (3 out of 22). Culture swab was sent in all cases and Pseudomonas was the most common organism. Biopsy was also done in all patients when polyps/granulation was present. Pre-treatment CT was performed in 95%. MRI was performed in 90.9 % and the rest couldn’t have MRI for valid reasons.3 patients were lost to follow up (Compliance to follow up was 86%). Intra-venous & topical antibiotics were given alongside micro-suction. Infectious Diseases team review was considered in 63.6%. Hyperbaric oxygen was considered in 4 patients (17.4%). Conclusions 96.5% overall compliance to guidelines was achieved. We aim to further understand the benefit of hyperbaric oxygen in NOE management by undertaking a prospective study.