What type of therapy is characterized by using ear drops daily to prevent swimmer's ear?

Prophylactic therapy is the correct choice because it involves the administration of a treatment to prevent a disease or condition from occurring. In the context of using ear drops daily to prevent swimmer’s ear, the goal is to inhibit the development of an infection in the ear canal, particularly in those prone to it after activities like swimming. By applying ear drops regularly, the therapy acts as a precautionary measure, aiming to prevent the onset of swimmer's ear rather than treating it once it has developed.

Maintenance therapy, on the other hand, typically refers to ongoing treatment aimed at managing a chronic condition rather than preventing it, while empiric therapy involves starting treatment based on a clinical judgment in the absence of definitive diagnostic information. Supplemental therapy usually adds onto a primary treatment plan to enhance its effectiveness. These distinctions clarify why prophylactic therapy specifically applies in the case of using ear drops to prevent swimmer's ear.