Division EENT-EAR: Ear mastoid

Ear and mastoid infections must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Otitis externa must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Patient has pathogens cultured from purulent drainage from ear canal

  • Patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain, redness, or drainage from ear canal

  • and organisms seen on Gram's stain of purulent drainage

• Otitis media must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Patient has organisms cultured from fluid from middle ear obtained by tympanocentesis or at surgical operation

  • Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain in the eardrum, inflammation, retraction or decreased mobility of eardrum, or fluid behind eardrum

• Otitis interna must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Patient has organisms cultured from fluid from inner ear obtained at surgical operation

  • Patient has a physician diagnosis of inner ear infection

• Mastoiditis must meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Patient has organisms cultured from purulent drainage from mastoid

  • Patient has at least two of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), pain, tenderness, erythema, headache, or facial paralysis

    AND at least 1 of the following:

    • organisms seen on Gram's stain of purulent material from mastoid

    • positive antigen test on blood