Case Report: infected ear cartilage piercing.

Ear cartilage piercing is becoming common; hence family physicians will be encountering problems with this fad. It is important that we determine the best approach to deal with infections resulting from ear cartilage piercings. While most of us consider Staphylococcus aureus to be the primary infecting agent, it is not uncommon for cartilaginous ear piercings to become infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.1 Special consideration should be given to these infections to minimize or avoid serious auricular chondritis, which can contribute to deformation of the external ear.