investigation of fungal infection in

introduction otomycosis is a common infection of the external ear that is seen in the tropical and subtropical areas of the world. we performed mycologic analysis by obtaining samples from the external auditory canal in patients clinically diagnosed with otomycosis. methods 174 patients with clinical suspicion of otomycosis referred to the otolaryngology clinic of al-zahra and kashani hospitals were studied from 2001 to 2003. first, samples were obtained from the external auditory canal of patients suspected of otomycosis. the samples were cultured in three dish plates and prepared for smear and direct microscopic examination. then the fungi were identified in culture dish plates by a fungologist results the patients had a mean age of 35.18 years. eighty-eight patients were women and 86 were men. housekeeping was the most common profession of subjects. itching of the external canal was the most common symptom (88.5%). the most common cultured fungi were asperfillus species (overall 60%). aspergillus flavus was cultured in 27.6% of cases, aspergillus niger in 25.3%, aspergillus fumigatus in 3.4%, and aspergillus nidus in 2.6%. candida was cultured in 5% of cases. predisposing factors included trauma and manipulation of the external canal (47.27%), diabetes (6.9%), and swimming (13.8%). external itching was the most common symptom of otomycosis (88.5%). conclusions aspergillus is an important pathogen for fungal external otitis in our environment. although candida was not a significant pathogen for otomycosis in our study, its role in other geographic areas is remarkable. keywords otomycosis, cultured fungi, anditory canal, fongal infection.