AOE 的一级预防旨在避免一些危险因素。 预防主要集中于保护外耳道的自然防御机制,包括保持皮肤的完整性。[1]Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, et al. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;150(suppl 1):S1-S24.http://oto.sagepub.com/content/150/1_suppl/S1.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24491310?tool=bestpractice.com 这可通过避免外耳道内水的存积而实现。[1]Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, et al. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;150(suppl 1):S1-S24.http://oto.sagepub.com/content/150/1_suppl/S1.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24491310?tool=bestpractice.com 可引起水存积的一些因素包括外耳道被耵聍或异物所阻塞、长期使用听力保护器和游泳。 尚未见就不同预防措施的效果进行评价的随机试验报告,但文献中已给出了一些建议。[1]Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, et al. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;150(suppl 1):S1-S24.http://oto.sagepub.com/content/150/1_suppl/S1.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24491310?tool=bestpractice.com 包括清除阻塞性耵聍,[11]Schwartz SR, Magit AE, Rosenfeld RM, et al. Clinical practice guideline (update): earwax (cerumen impaction). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017 Jan;156(1_suppl):S1-29.http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0194599816671491http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28045591?tool=bestpractice.com 防止外耳道进水,游泳后使用酸性滴耳剂,和避免用棉签和其他物品对外耳道造成创伤。其他建议措施包括治疗潜在的皮肤病(如皮炎),控制糖尿病,有过敏史的患者避免接触某些物品(新霉素滴耳剂、某些类型的耳模)。[1]Rosenfeld RM, Schwartz SR, Cannon CR, et al. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Clinical practice guideline: acute otitis externa. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014;150(suppl 1):S1-S24.http://oto.sagepub.com/content/150/1_suppl/S1.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24491310?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Osguthorpe JD, Nielsen DR. Otitis externa: review and clinical update. Am Fam Physician. 2006;74:1510-1516.http://www.aafp.org/afp/20061101/1510.htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17111889?tool=bestpractice.com