Prophylactic ciprofloxacin drops after tympanostomy tube insertion.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of prophylactic ciprofloxacin drops in decreasing the incidence of post-tympanostomy otorrhea, and the relation between middle ear content and post-tympanostomy otorrhea.


METHODS
One hundred and fifty patients aged 3-14 years underwent tympanostomy and tube insertion at the Prince Rashid Ben Al-Hasan Hospital, Al-Husn, Jordan during the interval between February 2000 to January 2003. The patients were randomized into 3 groups: group 1 (control group) received no antibiotic drops, group 2 received a single dose of ciprofloxacin drops intraoperatively and group 3 received an intraoperative dose followed by 5-day postoperative course.


RESULTS
Application of topical ciprofloxacin after tympanostomy tube insertion was associated with a significantly lower incidence of early post-tympanostomy otorrhea. The rate of otorrhea for the control group was 16.5% and the treatment groups were (group 1) 8.4%, (group 2) 8.2% and p=0.011. A single dose of antibiotics was effective when patient's middle ears were dry or had serous effusions. For those whose ears had mucoid or purulent content a 5-day course was indicated.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical administration of a single dose of ototopical ciprofloxacin after surgery is an effective treatment for the prevention of early post-tympanostomy otorrhea, and a prolonged course (5 days) may be indicated for those whose ears had purulent or thick mucoid contents, and the content of middle ear are important in predicating postoperative otorrhea.
Nawasreh
Omer
O
Department of Otolaryngology, Prince Rashid Ben Al-Husn Hospital, Jordan. nawasreh1@hotmail.com
Al-Wedyan
Ibrahim A
IA
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D007597:Jordan; D008297:Male; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012996:Solutions; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012996:Solutions; D002939:Ciprofloxacin