Otitis externa was first identified in 1873 by Adam Politzer, classified and recorded as one of the otological pathologies codified in his otology clinic in Austria. Burow’s solution, a therapeutic application of aqueous aluminium acetate, was invented by Karl August Burow in the mid-19th century. Antibiotic therapy for chronic otitis externa treatment emerged with the invention of mass production of penicillin in 1940 by Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey, and Ernst Chain. Corticosteroid therapy to relieve pain and itching from otitis externa emerged with the discovery of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone in 1957. The current therapy of “ear drops,” or topical application of antibiotics, began to be administered to otitis externa patients in 1987 after the discovery of ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone-class antibiotic.

• German physicians Hermann Schwartze, Anton von Troltsch, and Adam Politzer advanced the discourse of clinicial study of otitis externa by publishing the first journal dedicated to ear pathology and treatment in 1865.^[1]
• Adam Politzer founded the first otology clinic in 1873 in Austria, beginning the codification and standardization of ear disease treatment, such as otitis externa.
• Burow’s solution, a therapeutic application of aqueous aluminium acetate, was invented by Karl August Burow in the mid-19th century that is still used presently as a topical remedy for otitis externa.^[2]
• Antibiotic therapy for chronic otitis externa treatment emerged with the invention of mass production of penicillin in 1940 by Alexander Fleming, Howard Florey, and Ernst Chain.^[3]
  • This was the first instance of the modern use of antibiotic therapy for otitis externa treatment.
• Corticosteroid therapy to relieve pain and itching from otitis externa emerged with the discovery of the glucocorticoid dexamethasone in 1957.^[4]
• The “tektite solution” therapy of 15% tannic acid, 15% acetic acid, and 50% isopropanol or ethanol, emerged in 1969 in response to high incidence of otitis externa in biologists involved in the Tektite I diving mission.^[5]
• The current therapy of “ear drops,” or topical application of antibiotics, began to be administered to otitis externa patients in 1987 after the discovery of Ciprofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone-class antibiotic.^[6][7]