28th October 2020

A 66-year-old lady is in the emergency room for severe ear pain and fever for the past two days

A 66-year-old lady is in the emergency room for severe ear pain and fever for the past two days. There is associated unilateral hearing loss. Her past medical history includes diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, diverticular disease and eczema. Examination of the ear revealed cracked skin with periauricular erythema. There was tenderness during otoscopy, and the external ear canal was erythematous and completely obscured from oedema.

Select the SINGLE most appropriate management plan for this patient. Select ONE option only.