Assignment task: A 77-year-old man who has poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus has a 2-week history of left ear pain with yellow-green drainage. The pain radiates into the left TMJ causing pain with chewing. The symptoms are unresponsive to application of topical antibiotics, topical glucocorticoids, and installation of drying agents. Examination shows swelling of the ear canal and granulation tissue in the inferior portion of the affected external ear canal at the bone-cartilage junction. Which of the following is the preferred initial therapy? • 1. Doxycycline • 2. Ciprofloxacin • 3. Azithromycin • 4. Ceftriaxone and explanation