A case of chronic otitis media caused by Mycobacterium abscessus cured by medical treatment without ototoxic drugs

Abstract

Otitis media due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a rare refractory disease that requires long-term multi-drug antibiotic therapy. For Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus), amikacin (AMK), an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is often used; however, it is ototoxic, potentially leading to irreversible hearing loss and vestibular disorders. In this case, we encountered a case of M. abscessus-otitis disease that was cured by medical treatment with multi-drug antibiotic therapy without ototoxic drugs. As drug-induced hearing loss can cause delayed and irreversible hearing impairment, it is necessary to consider a treatment option that avoids ototoxic drugs when cochlear and vestibular disorders are already present before treatment.