THE INCIDENCE OF OTITIS-EXTERNA AFTER SWIMMING - A CASE-STUDY IN 6 INDOOR-POOLS

A bacteriological study of the microflora in the auditory meatus of patients with otitis externa after swimming in correlation water flora was performed during the winter of 1980-81. Six indoor pools (monthly controls had proven waterquality) were analyzed daily, while all swimmers were asked to come for otologic examination whenever symptoms of otitis externa appeared. In a control group without otitis externa the auditory canal was inspected and swabs were taken immediately after swimming. The results indicate that a short term contamination of the ear canal is possible by swimming in water of unobjectionable quality; this however does not necessarily lead to clinical appearances. Since the incidence of otitis externa in this study (0.01%) was not higher than the morbidity rate in nonswimmers, the data support the concept of a multiplex etiology for otitis externa.