[Local treatment of otitis media and otitis externa: the role of quinolones].

Patients suffering from suppurative otitis media and externa, and in whom pseudomonas species are present, were treated twice daily by local instillation of ciprofloxacin 0.2%. Treatment resulted in clinical and bacteriological cure in all 17 patients, including patients resistant to previous therapy, within a mean time of six days. There were no adverse effects except one case of local allergy. Audiograms remained unchanged. Local therapy with ciprofloxacin is a welcome addition but should be reserved for cases resistant to other therapy.