External ear: otomycosis: practice question

A ENT question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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ENT · External ear: otomycosis

Sample item

A farmer has itching, a feeling of fullness and wet, fluffy black and grey debris like blotting paper in the ear canal after using steroid-antibiotic drops. What is the most likely organism?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Aspergillus niger

Otomycosis most commonly follows prolonged topical antibiotic use and is usually caused by Aspergillus niger, with Candida second. Treatment is aural toilet and topical antifungals such as clotrimazole. Bacterial otitis externa would give pain and purulent discharge.

Option by option

  • A. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

    Pseudomonas causes painful bacterial otitis externa with green discharge.

  • B. Staphylococcus aureus

    Staph aureus causes furuncles and impetiginous otitis externa.

  • C. Streptococcus pyogenes

    Streptococcus is not the typical cause of fungal-looking debris.

  • D. Aspergillus niger (correct)

    Correct. Aspergillus niger forms black fungal debris and is the commonest cause.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More ENT questions

Questions about this ENT question

What is the answer to this ENT question?

The best answer is D, Aspergillus niger. Otomycosis most commonly follows prolonged topical antibiotic use and is usually caused by Aspergillus niger, with Candida second.

Why is "Pseudomonas aeruginosa" not the answer?

Pseudomonas causes painful bacterial otitis externa with green discharge.

Why is "Staphylococcus aureus" not the answer?

Staph aureus causes furuncles and impetiginous otitis externa.

Why is "Streptococcus pyogenes" not the answer?

Streptococcus is not the typical cause of fungal-looking debris.

What concept does this question test?

It tests External ear: otomycosis in ENT. Treatment is aural toilet and topical antifungals such as clotrimazole. Bacterial otitis externa would give pain and purulent discharge.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study External ear: otomycosis?

Learn tuning fork results and audiogram patterns by sketching them. Then use the flashcards and the other ENT questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.