Chronic otitis media treated topically with ciprofloxacin or tobramycin.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of ciprofloxacin compared with tobramycin and placebo ear drops in the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma.

DESIGN:

Sixty ears (in 51 patients) were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups: ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, tobramycin, and placebo interventions.

SETTING:

The otolaryngology department of a university teaching hospital.

INTERVENTION:

All ears were treated topically for 3 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Each patient received a small, numbered bottle and was instructed to instill 5 drops 3 times daily for 3 weeks. The final clinical and bacteriologic assessment was made after 3 weeks.

RESULTS:

The organism most commonly isolated from the ear discharge was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and tobramycin was 94.2% and 70.6%, respectively. The clinical response was 78.9%, 72.2%, and 41.2% in the ciprofloxacin, tobramycin, and placebo groups, respectively. The bacteriologic response rate was 66.7% for the ciprofloxacin and tobramycin groups and 20% for the placebo group. Treatment with ciprofloxacin ear drops seemed to be as effective as treatment with tobramycin.

CONCLUSION:

While the lack of ototoxicity of ciprofloxacin was not tested in our study, this treatment may be considered as a potential topical therapy for cases of chronic suppurative otitis media.

• Authors: M Fradis, A Brodsky, J Ben-David, I Srugo, J Larboni, L Podoshin
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 123 Issue 10 Pg. 1057-60 (Oct 1997) ISSN: 0886-4470 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9339980 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Anti-Infective Agents
• Ciprofloxacin
• Tobramycin

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Anti-Infective Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Chronic Disease
• Ciprofloxacin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Microbial Sensitivity Tests
• Middle Aged
• Otitis Media (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Prospective Studies
• Pseudomonas Infections (drug therapy)
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa (drug effects)
• Tobramycin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Treatment Outcome