What Causes Staph Infections in the Ear and How to Treat Them
Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD
Staphylococcus aureus can cause a type of ear infection called otitis externa, also known as “swimmer’s ear.” The infection involves the ear canal, which has both a bony and a cartilaginous portion.
Auricular cellulitis is an infection of the outer ear, which is the cartilage portion of the ear that you can see and touch, including the lobe, helix, and ear canal.
Staph is not the only germ that can cause otitis externa, but it’s a common cause of the condition.
This article discusses the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of staph infection in the ear.
Takeaway
Most staph infections are easily treated with antibiotics. Certain strains, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are resistant to antibiotics and can be hard to treat.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
How Do You Get Staph Infection in the Ear?
Ear canal infection is caused by bacteria or, less commonly, fungi. Excess water in the ear creates a moist environment for staph (or other germs) to grow and lead to infection.
Related: What Is Swimmer's Ear?
Other causes of otitis externa include:
Humidity and sweating: Some bacteria and other germs thrive in moist environments.
Trauma: This can occur when the skin of the outer ear is broken from a scratch, injured when using cotton swabs to clean the ear, or getting something stuck in the ear.
Earbuds or hearing aids: If these devices are not kept clean, they can introduce bacteria into the outer ear.
Eczema or psoriasis: These skin conditions can affect the outer ear.
Contact dermatitis: This is a skin reaction that causes a rash that may occur in the outer ear.
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of Staphylococcus aureus that is resistant to some antibiotics. It is common in the environment and is spread the same way as non-resistant strains of staph.
You can catch MRSA from someone who has it if you touch the infected area and do not wash your hands thoroughly.
Related: What Is MRSA?
Symptoms
A staph infection of your ear may cause one or more of the following symptoms:
Redness
Itching
Swelling of the outer ear
Dry flaky skin in the outer ear
Rarely, a staph infection of the outer ear can cause hearing loss.
When To Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Seek emergency care if you have:
Pain in an ear
Itching of the ear or ear canal
Loss of hearing or difficulty hearing in one or both ears
Pus or discharge from an ear, especially if it’s thick, yellow, bloody, or foul-smelling
Symptoms that get worse or continue despite treatment
New symptoms, such as fever or pain and redness of the skull behind the ear
Is Staph Infection in the Ear Dangerous?
How serious a staph infection is or may become depends on many factors, including the strain of the bacteria causing the infection and your underlying health.
Most staph infections can be cured, but some resist antibiotics, which allows the infection to spread and damage tissue or nerves. In severe cases, the infection enters the bloodstream and causes sepsis.
A serious complication of staph infections of the outer ear canal is malignant otitis externa, which occurs when the infection spreads from the external auditory canal to the base of the skull (the temporal bone).
Takeaway
Malignant otitis externa is more common in people who have diabetes or a compromised immune system, but it can also occur in people who do not have these conditions.
The condition can damage cranial nerves, bone tissue, and in extreme cases even result in death. To avoid malignant otitis externa, it’s important to treat otitis externa promptly.
Fortunately, malignant otitis externa is not a cancer and is very rare.
Related: What Is Malignant Otitis Externa?
Diagnosis
Your healthcare provider can sometimes diagnose a staph infection in the ear just by looking at it with an otoscope, asking you about your symptoms, and testing any drainage for the presence of staph bacteria.
If your infection is severe, your doctor might need to rule out malignant otitis externa by performing a CT scan or MRI.
Related: What to Do If Your Child Has Swimmer's Ear
Treatment
The best way to prevent a staph infection from becoming serious is to get treatment as soon as possible and to carefully follow the treatment your healthcare provider prescribes.
Antibiotic Ear Drops
Antibiotic ear drops are one of the most common treatments for otitis externa. Ear drops are preferred over systemic antibiotics because they typically have fewer side effects and get the medication directly to the site of the infection.
Swelling of the ear can make it hard to administer ear drops correctly. If you are having difficulty, your doctor can insert a wick (basically a long, thin piece of gauze) into your ear to help deliver the medication.
Takeaway
You need to use ear drops exactly as prescribed by your doctor to cure your infection and prevent the formation of resistant bacteria.
Related: How to Use Ear Drops Correctly
Oral (Systemic) Antibiotics
Systemic antibiotics are medications that are given by mouth (orally) or delivered directly into the bloodstream (intravenously).
Oral antibiotics are not the preferred treatment for mild to moderate causes of otitis externa because the medications may have side effects.
However, in some cases, oral antibiotics are prescribed to treat a staph infection of the ear—such as when the ear is too swollen, the eardrum is ruptured, or the infection has spread beyond the outer ear.
Steroid Ear Drops
Steroids are medications that suppress the inflammatory response of the immune system, which reduces inflammation, swelling, itching, and redness. Steroid drops alone will not cure an otitis externa infection, but they can ease the symptoms.
Related: Over-the-Counter Ear Drops: Types and Functions
Pain Relief
Your doctor may recommend a mild over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever such as acetaminophen to relieve any discomfort that you are experiencing.
Related: How Is MRSA Treated?
Prevention
Here are some steps you can take to prevent otitis externa:
Use a blow dryer on a cool setting to dry your ears out after swimming or bathing.
Get the water out of your ears after swimming or bathing by tilting your head to the side and gently pulling on your ear lobe to straighten out the ear canal to let the water run out.
Use earplugs or a good swimming cap to keep water out of your ears when swimming or bathing.
Do not stick anything in your ears (such as a cotton swab) in an attempt to remove earwax.
If you do not have a damaged eardrum or tympanostomy (ventilation) tubes in your ears, put a couple of drops of rubbing alcohol in your ears after bathing or swimming.
Related: How to Prevent Ear Infections
Summary
Ear canal infection is most commonly caused by bacteria, especially staph. Excess water or moisture in the ear creates an environment for staph to grow, which can then lead to infection. Symptoms may include ear pain, itching, redness, and drainage. Getting treatment early will help to avoid any complications and use preventive measures to keep your ears clean and dry.
Related: Photos of Different Skin Infections
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