By Robert M. DiSogra

This article is a part of the January/February 2021, Volume 33, Number 1, Audiology Today issue.

Over the past 12 months, information about the SARS-CoV-2 virus (or COVID-19 as it is commonly known) continues to emerge. A wealth of information appears on the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021) about the virus, management, vaccines, quarantine, and new variants. A search of the National Library of Medicine’s (NLM) National Center for Biotechnology Information’s database (PubMed) identified over 90,000 COVID-19 related articles already in print from around the world (NLM, 2021). Approximately 800 clinical trials examining a variety of biologics for COVID-19 intervention are also underway (all phases) worldwide (NLM ClinicalTrials.gov, 2021).

The role of audiology in the management of COVID-19 patients has emerged as survivors begin to experience a continuance of their health issues post-discharge or a late onset of medical problems. This group of patients has been referred to as COVID-19 “long-haulers.” COVID-19 survivors may also experience auditory/vestibular problems. DiSogra (2020) addresses this issue in detail and offers suggestions for ongoing monitoring.

This article will address whether COVID-19 can be found in cerumen and what precautions need to be taken with current patients and ‘long-haulers.’

COVID-19 Presence in Cerumen

The first published study that evaluated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the cerumen of COVID-19 positive patients appeared in mid-October 2020 (Islamoglu et al, 2020). Sixty COVID-19 patients with cerumen in their external auditory canals were evaluated from a pool of 825 patients. Swabs were taken from the external auditory canal of the patients.

The SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in the cerumen samples in all 60 patients. The authors concluded that care should be taken during cerumen management or due to the possibility of infection from the resulting contaminants (specula, plastic loops, gloves, catch basins, etc.).

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