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.

DESIGN

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

SETTING

The otolaryngology department of a university teaching hospital.

INTERVENTION

All ears were treated topically for 3 weeks.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

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.

CONCLUSION

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.