Diffuse otitis externa: clinical and microbiologic findings in the course of a multicenter study on a new otic solution.

This report reviews the literature on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and bacteriology of diffuse otitis externa. Four departments of otolaryngology undertook identical studies of these factors, as well as the efficacy and safety of two similar antibiotic-corticosteroid formulations; one a suspension and the other a clear solution. A total of 239 patients, or 283 ears, were studied, utilizing objective clinical as well as correlative bacteriologic criteria. A high degree of clinical and bacteriologic efficacy was demonstrated by the medications irrespective of the formulation, infecting organism, patient's age, length of disease history, severity, or geographic location. There was no statistical difference between either formulation, both achieving a clinical efficacy rate of 97% and a bacteriologic efficacy rate of 83%. Drug related side effects occurred in 1.9% of the patients given the solution and in 1.1% of those given the suspension.