During an otoscopic examination, the nurse notices an area of black and white dots on the tympanic membrane and the ear canal wall. What does this finding suggest?

A) Malignancy
B) Viral infection
C) Blood in the middle ear
D) Yeast or fungal infection

A colony of black or white dots on the drum or canal wall suggests a yeast or fungal infection (otomycosis). A colony of black and white dots on the eardrum is not a manifestation of malignancy, a viral infection, of blood in the middle year. Blood in the middle year would cause a blue or dark red appearance of the eardrum.