An audit of the management of acute otitis externa in an ENT casualty clinic.

The management of acute otitis externa is variable, despite the fact that it is one of the commonest otological emergencies. We formed the impression that many patients attending our ENT casualty clinic with otitis externa were being treated and followed up inappropriately. To test this hypothesis we performed a retrospective pilot study on our practice which revealed a lack of uniformity in the management and follow-up of these patients. And as a result of this, guidelines were developed to improve our management of otitis externa and decrease the number of unnecessary review visits. Our practice was then audited prospectively over a six-month period with the guidelines in place. An improvement in the overall management and a rationalization of follow-up for otitis externa was seen by applying basic audit principles to this common clinical problem.