The efficacy of topical ciprofloxacin in the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media.

We conducted a test of the efficacy of ciprofloxacin eardrops in 80 patients (95 ears) with otorrhea due to chronic suppurative otitis media in two treatment settings. One group (n = 40; 47 ears) received daily ciprofloxacin therapy plus aspiration in the clinic. The other group (n = 40; 48 ears) self-administered ciprofloxacin at home. Overall, otorrhea resolved in 88% of all ears within 12 days of the initiation of treatment. The clinic-treated patients tended to respond more rapidly than did the self-treated patients, but there was no statistically significant difference in success rates between the two groups. Side effects were negligible. We conclude that empiric topical ciprofloxacin therapy is an effective, safe and relatively inexpensive treatment for otorrhea in patients with chronic otitis media.