A 52-year-old man presents to the clinic with severe left ear pain, purulent discharge, and worsening headache for the past week. He has been experiencing fever and progressive difficulty chewing due to pain radiating to the temporomandibular joint. He has tried over-the-counter analgesics and topical ear drops without relief. His medical history includes poorly-controlled type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. He takes metformin, glargine insulin, lisinopril, and atorvastatin. He does not smoke cigarettes but drinks alcohol socially. His temperature is 101.6°F (38.7°C), blood pressure is 132/78 mmHg, and heart rate is 94 beats/min. Physical examination reveals tenderness over the mastoid process, swelling around the ear, and granulation tissue in the external auditory canal.
Which of the following is the most likely causative organism?
- A) Aspergillus fumigatus
- B) Candida albicans
- C) Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- D) Staphylococcus aureus
- E) Streptococcus pneumoniae
Author(s)
Dr. Ted O'Connell
Editor(s)
Dr. Ted O'Connell
Last updated
Apr 18, 2025
