Candida lusitaniae as an Unusual Cause of Otomycosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Otomycosis is a fungal infection of the external auditory canal that may extend to the tympanic membrane. Although commonly caused by Aspergillus and Candida species, infections due to uncommon fungal pathogens may present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report the case of a 46-year-old woman who presented to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) with intense pruritus of the right external auditory canal, associated with a whitish discharge and tympanic perforation on otoscopic examination. Mycological analysis of the ear discharge identified Candida lusitaniae. To our knowledge, this represents the first case of otomycosis due to C. lusitaniae reported in our department, underscoring the importance of accurate fungal identification for guiding appropriate antifungal therapy in atypical or refractory otomycosis.