External ear: perichondritis: 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: perichondritis

Sample item

After an ear piercing through the upper cartilage, a woman has a red, swollen, painful pinna that spares the lobule. Which organism is most commonly responsible?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Perichondritis of the pinna after cartilage piercing is typically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The lobule has no cartilage, so it is spared. Treatment is an antipseudomonal fluoroquinolone with drainage of any abscess to prevent cartilage necrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Haemophilus influenzae

    H. influenzae causes otitis media and sinusitis.

  • B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (correct)

    Correct. Pseudomonas is the classic organism after cartilage piercing.

  • C. Candida albicans

    Candida is not the usual pathogen in acute perichondritis.

  • D. Streptococcus pneumoniae

    Pneumococcus is typical of otitis media, not pinna cartilage infection.

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 B, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Perichondritis of the pinna after cartilage piercing is typically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Why is "Haemophilus influenzae" not the answer?

H. influenzae causes otitis media and sinusitis.

Why is "Candida albicans" not the answer?

Candida is not the usual pathogen in acute perichondritis.

Why is "Streptococcus pneumoniae" not the answer?

Pneumococcus is typical of otitis media, not pinna cartilage infection.

What concept does this question test?

It tests External ear: perichondritis in ENT. The lobule has no cartilage, so it is spared. Treatment is an antipseudomonal fluoroquinolone with drainage of any abscess to prevent cartilage necrosis.

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: perichondritis?

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.