Ceftazidime versus aztreonam in the treatment of pseudomonal chronic suppurative otitis media in children

In a prospective, open, randomized trial, ceftazidime was given to 15 child ren and aztreonam to another 15 children with chronic suppurative otitis me dia without cholesteatoma (CSOM). Patients enrolled to the study had a pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in middle ear discharge. The sub jects' mean age was 56 months in the ceftazidime group and 48 months in the aztreonam group. Success rate, defined as complete disappearance of discha rge, was 84.6% in the ceftazidime treated patients and 67% in the aztreonam group (p value not significant). The number of days required for complete dryness of the ear was 7.9 and 8.4 respectively. Two patients in each group had recurrence of suppurative discharge within 90 d from discontinuation o f antibiotic treatment. These results suggest that aztreonam is an optional alternative systemic treatment for paediatric patients with pseudomonal CS OM, especially in subjects allergic to penicillin.