Preoperative therapeutic considerations in chronic suppurative otitis media.

The present randomized, prospective study of 119 cases of chronic suppurative otitis media compares the effectiveness of inexpensive, atoxic, nonallergenic disinfectants applied locally, to that of a number of occasionally toxic antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents, administered systemically. Systemic treatment resulted in a cure rate of 53.5% (SEp = 5.9%) while ototopical treatment resulted in a 39.5% cure rate (SEp = 7%). Eradication of pathogens or colonization by a nonpathogen occurred in 50.7% (SEp = 5.9%) with systemic treatment, and in 39.5% (SEp = 7%) with ototopical treatment. Bacteriological modification was 2.5 times more frequent with systemic treatment than with ototopical treatment. No recurrences were noted with ototopical treatment, while 13% to 36% recurrence rates were noted in various subgroups of cases treated systemically. Cure rates achieved with particular drug regimens (administration based on sensitivity tests in vitro) were: Azactam 25% (5%-57% confidence limits), sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim 58.6% (38%-76%), ciprofloxacin 87.5% (47%-99%), ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole 90% (55%-99%). Cure rates with other drugs were inconclusive because of the limited number of observations.