Topical ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone superior to oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in acute otitis media with otorrhea through tympanostomy tubes.
OBJECTIVE
This study was a comparison of topical ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic suspension to oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension in children with acute otitis media with otorrhea through tympanostomy tubes.


METHODS
This was a randomized, observer-masked, parallel-group, multicenter trial of topical ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic suspension versus amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension in 80 children aged 6 months to 12 years with acute otitis media with otorrhea through tympanostomy tubes of < or = 3 weeks' duration and visible otorrhea. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either 4 drops of topical ciprofloxacin 0.3%/dexamethasone 0.1% (Ciprodex Sterile Otic Suspension) into the affected ear(s) twice daily for 7 days or 600 mg of amoxicillin/42.9 mg of clavulanic acid oral suspension (Augmentin ES-600 Oral Suspension) every 12 hours for 10 days. Clinical signs and symptoms of acute otitis media with otorrhea through tympanostomy tubes were evaluated on days 1 (baseline), 3, 11 (end-of-therapy), and 18 (test-of-cure), and twice-daily assessments of otorrhea were recorded in patient diaries.


RESULTS
The median time to cessation of otorrhea was significantly shorter with ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic suspension than with amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension (4.0 vs 7.0 days; n = 79). This resulted in significantly more clinical cures at the test-of-cure visit (85% vs 59%, respectively). Frequent adverse events (> 3%) related to ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic suspension included ear pain (5.1%) and related to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension included diarrhea (19.5%), dermatitis (7.3%), and gastroenteritis (4.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
Topical otic treatment with ciprofloxacin/dexamethasone otic suspension is superior to treatment with oral amoxicillin/clavulanic acid suspension and results in more clinical cures and earlier cessation of otorrhea with fewer adverse effects in children with acute otitis media with otorrhea through tympanostomy tubes.
Dohar
Joseph
J
Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Giles
William
W
Roland
Peter
P
Bikhazi
Nadim
N
Carroll
Sean
S
Moe
Roderick
R
Reese
Bradley
B
Dupre
Sheryl
S
Wall
Michael
M
Stroman
David
D
McLean
Celeste
C
Crenshaw
Krista
K
D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000658:Amoxicillin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D019818:Clavulanic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010406:Penicillins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010406:Penicillins; D019818:Clavulanic Acid; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000658:Amoxicillin