CHRONIC OTITIS-MEDIA TREATED TOPICALLY WITH CIPROFLOXACIN OR TOBRAMYCIN

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ciprofloxacin compared with tob ramycin 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 hydroch loride, tobramycin, and placebo interventions. Setting: The otolaryngo logy department of a university teaching hospital. Intervention: All e ars were treated topically for 3 weeks. Main Outcome Measures: Each pa tient received a small, numbered bottle and was instructed to instill 5 drops 3 times daily for 3 weeks. The final clinical and bacteriologi c assessment was made after 3 weeks. Results: The organism most common ly isolated from the ear discharge was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Its sen sitivity to ciprofloxacin and tobramycin was 94.2% and 70.6%, respecti vely. The clinical response was 78.9%, 72.2%, and 41.2% in the ciprofl oxacin, tobramycin, and placebo groups, respectively. The bacteriologi c 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: Wh ile the lack of ototoxicity of ciprofloxacin was not tested in our stu dy, this treatment may be considered as a potential topical therapy fo r cases of chronic suppurative otitis media.