Clinical efficacy of three common treatments in acute otitis externa in primary care: randomised controlled trial.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the clinical efficacy of ear drops containing acetic acid, corticosteroid and acetic acid, and steroid and antibiotic in acute otitis externa in primary care.

DESIGN:

Randomised controlled trial.

SETTING:

79 general practices, Netherlands.

PARTICIPANTS:

213 adults with acute otitis externa.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

PRIMARY OUTCOME:

duration of symptoms (days) according to patient diaries. Secondary outcome: cure rate according to general practitioner completed questionnaires and recurrence of symptoms between days 21 and 42.

RESULTS:

Symptoms lasted for a median of 8.0 days (95% confidence interval 7.0 to 9.0) in the acetic acid group, 7.0 days (5.8 to 8.3) in the steroid and acetic acid group, and 6.0 days (5.1 to 6.9) in the steroid and antibiotic group. The overall cure rates at seven, 14, and 21 days were 38%, 68%, and 75%, respectively. Compared with the acetic acid group, significantly more patients were cured in the steroid and acetic acid group and steroid and antibiotic group at day 14 (odds ratio 2.4, 1.1 to 5.3, and 3.5, 1.6 to 7.7, respectively) and day 21 (5.3, 2.0 to 13.7, and 3.9, 1.7 to 9.1, respectively). Recurrence of symptoms between days 21 and 42 occurred in 29% (50/172) of patients and was seen significantly less in the steroid and acetic acid group (0.3, 0.1 to 0.7) and steroid and antibiotic group (0.4, 0.2 to 1.0) than in the acetic acid group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Ear drops containing corticosteroids are more effective than acetic acid ear drops in the treatment of acute otitis externa in primary care. Steroid and acetic acid or steroid and antibiotic ear drops are equally effective.

• Authors: Frank A M van Balen, W Martijn Smit, Nicolaas P A Zuithoff, Theo J M Verheij
• Journal: BMJ (Clinical research ed.) (BMJ) Vol. 327 Issue 7425 Pg. 1201-5 (Nov 22 2003) ISSN: 1756-1833 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 14630756 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Glucocorticoids
• Dexamethasone
• Triamcinolone Acetonide
• Neomycin
• Acetic Acid

Topics

• Acetic Acid (therapeutic use)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (therapeutic use)
• Dexamethasone (therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neomycin (therapeutic use)
• Otitis Externa (drug therapy)
• Recurrence
• Treatment Outcome
• Triamcinolone Acetonide (therapeutic use)