AKT-1544

A 63-year-old woman comes to your clinic complaining of a painless, foul-smelling discharge from her left ear that has been going on for four months. She had seen another doctor a month ago who prescribed gentamicin/hydrocortisone ear drops, but they did not help alleviate her symptoms.

Upon examination, there is some wax buildup in the attic of her left ear, but otherwise, everything appears normal. Her cranial nerve examination is also unremarkable.

What would be the best course of action to take?