Pseudomonas aeruginosa chondritis after piercing in adolescent: About a case and review of the literature

Pinna piercing become a trend and is associated with increase complications. We report a case presenting with post-piercing chondritis in our department and we describe clinical features, treatment and follow-up.
It is about a 14-years-old patient, consulted for right pinna pain, which had pierced 15 days earlier. On clinical examination, she had swollen pinna respecting the lobule, with pus output from the orifices of the piercing. The diagnosis retained was extensive chondritis with abscess. Intravenous probabilistic antibiotherapy was started after surgical drainage without waiting for culture, using combining ciprofloxacin and metronidazole during her hospitalization. Culture results have revealed a Pseudomonas aeruginosa sensitive to these antibiotics. The ear returns to a normal shape after 15 days apart a hypertrophic scar
Ear piercing may lead to infections or deformity. In case of chondritis, early administration of an antibiotic therapy is recommended. Prevention remains the best treatment.