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


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


METHODS
The otolaryngology department of a university teaching hospital.


METHODS
All ears were treated topically for 3 weeks.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Fradis
M
M
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Bnai Zion Medical Center; and The Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
Brodsky
A
A
Ben-David
J
J
Srugo
I
I
Larboni
J
J
Podoshin
L
L
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D014031:Tobramycin