title: Medical treatment of chronic otitis media: steroid or antibiotic with steroid ear-drops?
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether, in the treatment of active non-cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media, the effectiveness of gentamicin with hydrocortisone ear-drops is due solely to the contained steroid or to the combination of antibiotic and steroid. Sixty-four patients presenting to the Ear, Nose and Throat outpatient department with active non-cholesteatomatous chronic otitis media were randomly allocated to receive either gentamicin with hydrocortisone ear-drops, or betamethasone ear-drops, for up to 4 weeks. Activity in the ear was assessed at 2 and 4 weeks. Gentamicin with hydrocortisone combination drops were significantly more effective than betamethasone drops (P less than 0.001) in producing inactivity of chronic otitis media, being effective in 80% as opposed to 29% of cases. The effectiveness of gentamicin with hydrocortisone ear-drops appears to be due to the combination of antibiotic and steroid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Stobhill General Hospital, Glasgow, U.K.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Crowther
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simpson
mesh_terms: D001623:Betamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D005839:Gentamicins; D001623:Betamethasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone