After 1 Week of Treatment of Otitis Externa with a Topical

Multiple Choice

After 1 week of treatment of otitis externa with a topical antibacterial preparation,a patient has no significant improvement.What is the next best appropriate step in the treatment of this patient?

A) Begin an oral antibiotic agent
B) Discontinue use of the initially prescribed topical agent and prescribe a different preparation
C) Suspect an immunodeficiency disorder and order a complete hematologic panel
D) Suspect an overgrowth of nonsusceptible organisms and obtain cultures