Swimmer's Ear

Prevention

- Consider wearing earplugs during swimming.

- After swimming, remove as much water from ears as possible by:

  • tilting head to allow water to drain from ears

  • using hair dryer set on low

  • if intact eardrum and no ear tubes, instill a few drops of vinegar +/- isopropyl alcohol in each ear after swimming.
Usual Pathogens

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Enterobacterales
S. aureus

 

Empiric Therapy Dose Duration
Isopropyl alcohol 95%/ glycerin 5% (Auro-Dri) Use as directed max 7 days
or    
Acetic acid 2% 3-4 drops tid-qid max 7 days

Alternative

Empiric Therapy Dose Duration
Framycetin/ gramicidin/ dexamethasone (Sofracort) 2-3 drops tid-qid max 7 days
or    
Ciprofloxacin/ dexamethasone (Ciprodex) 4 drops bid max 7 days
or    
Clioquinol/ flumethasone (Locacorten Vioform) 2-3 drops bid max 7 days