EFFECTS OF TOPICAL OTIC PREPARATIONS ON HEARING IN CHRONIC OTITIS-MEDIA

Most of the topical otic preparations have been shown to cause ototoxi city. In this study ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, a relatively new topi cal agent, and gentamicin sulfate were studied in two groups of 20 pat ients with chronic otitis media, Patients were randomly selected to re ceive either ciprofloxacin (200 mu g/ml) or gentamicin sulfate (5 mg/m l) locally, five drops three times a day for 10 days. Clinical respons e was seen in 20 of 20 patients in the ciprofloxacin group compared wi th 6 of 20 patients in the gentamicin group, Audiometric evaluation re vealed no significant ototoxic effect in either group, In fact, hearin g thresholds were slightly better than pretreatment levels in both gro ups.