AN AUDIT OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE OTITIS-EXTERNA IN AN ENT CASUALTYCLINIC

The management of acute otitis externa is variable, despite the fact t hat it is one of the commonest otological emergencies. We formed the i mpression that many patients attending our ENT casualty clinic with ot itis externa were being treated and followed up inappropriately. To te st this hypothesis we performed a retrospective pilot study on our pra ctice which revealed a lack of uniformity in the management and follow -up of these patients. And as a result of this, guidelines were develo ped to improve our management of otitis externa and decrease the numbe r of unnecessary review visits. Our practice was then audited prospect ively over a six-month period with the guidelines in place. An improve ment in the overall management and a rationalization of follow-up for otitis externa was seen by applying basic audit principles to this com mon clinical problem.