A COMPARISON OF ANTIFUNGAL DRUGS AND TRADITIONAL ANTISEPTIC MEDICATION FOR OTOMYCOSIS TREATMENT
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Objectives: Otomycosis infections are a common problem in otolaryngology. Traditional topical and systemic antifungal treatments can be associated with resistance, mucosal irritation, and systemic toxicity. These challenges necessitate the development of new approaches and cellular targets for therapeutic intervention. Aim: This study investigates the prevalence of otomycosis, species distribution, predisposing factors, sex distribution and evaluates the effectiveness of non-specific antifungal agents as a safer alternative to conventional antifungal medications in treating otomycosis. Method: Ear swabs were collected from 114 patients with otomycosis attending the otolaryngology clinic at two main hospitals. Yeast identification was done based on the microscopical and morphological characteristics of the colony. The antifungal efficacy of the tested drugs was assessed using an agar well-diffusion assay, and molecular methods were employed to identify the yeasts. Results: The results showed that females were more affected (54.38%) than males (45.61%). The most prevalent species identified was Candida albicans (36.8%), followed by Candida parapsilosis (26.3%), Candida glabrata (14%), and Candida tropicalis (12.4%), while Candida krusi had the lowest prevalence (10.5%). with the highest prevalence recorded in the 31-40 age group (20.2%). Four nonspecific topical antifungal agents for the ear, povidone iodine (7.5%) and hydrogen peroxide (3%), showed the strongest inhibitory activity against Candida species isolates, while acetic acid (2%) and isopropyl alcohol (70%) demonstrated weaker effects. Novelty: Topical antiseptic agents are regarded as effective alternatives or adjuncts to antifungals for the treatment of ear infections, particularly otomycosis. Antiseptics serve to minimize fungal infection, restrict microbiological growth, and prevent the development of antifungal resistance.
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