Why are ototopical aminoglycosides still first-line therapy for chronic suppurative otitis media? A systematic review and discussion of aminoglycosides versus quinolones.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to establish that quinolones are as effective as aminoglycosides when used to treat chronic suppurative otitis media. METHOD: The review included good quality, randomised, controlled trials on human subjects, published in English, that compared topical aminoglycosides with topical quinolones for the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media. RESULTS: Nine trials met the criteria. Two studies showed a higher clinical cure rate in the quinolone group (93 per cent vs 71 per cent, p = 0.04, and 76 per cent vs 52 per cent, p = 0.009). Four studies showed no statistically significant difference in clinical outcome. A significant difference in microbiological clearance in favour of quinolones was shown in two studies (88 per cent vs 30 per cent, p < 0.001, and 88 per cent vs 30 per cent, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Topical quinolones do not carry the same risk of ototoxicity as aminoglycosides. Furthermore, they are equal or more effective in treating chronic suppurative otitis media and when used as prophylaxis post-myringotomy. Topical quinolones should be considered a first-line treatment for these patients.

Tympanoplasty graft preparation using ear drops containing polyethylene glycol, flumethasone and clioquinol.

The aim of tympanoplasty graft preparation is to stiffen the fascia or perichondrium and thereby to optimise ease of manipulation. We report 39 cases utilising a novel technique in which the graft is prepared in ear drops containing polyethylene glycol, flumetasone pivalate (0.02 per cent) and clioquinol (1 per cent). This technique is useful in reducing the risk of desiccation if placement is delayed, and may pose less risk of infection and mechanical damage than alternative methods.

Is there evidence to link acid reflux with chronic sinusitis or any nasal symptoms? A review of the evidence.

BACKGROUND: Acid reflux into the oesophagus, larynx, pharynx or nasopharynx has been suggested as a causal factor in chronic rhino-sinusitis (CRS), which can then be refractory to nasal treatments. The aim of this review was to conclude on the strength of the link between GORD, LPR, nasopharyngeal reflux, nasal symptoms and CRS. METHOD: Medline and Embase search. RESULTS: Nineteen papers describing varying studies on CRS, GORD, LPR and PPI therapy were found. Four adult case-controlled studies showed more acid reflux events/symptoms in refractory CRS patients. Paediatric cohort studies showed more reflux events in rhinosinusitis patients than the general paediatric population, but they are not conclusive. Many papers do not use robust CRS diagnostic criteria for inclusion into studies and take no confounding factors into consideration. CONCLUSION: The evidence of a link is poor with no good randomised controlled trials available. The few adult studies that show any link between acid reflux and nasal symptoms are small case-controlled studies with moderate levels of potential bias. There is not enough evidence to consider anti-reflux therapy for adult refractory CRS and there is no evidence that acid reflux is a significant causal factor in CRS.

Prospective randomised single-blind controlled trial of glacial acetic acid versus glacial acetic acid, neomycin sulphate and dexamethasone spray in otitis externa and infected mastoid cavities.

OBJECTIVES: The literature reports the merits of antibacterial, antibiotic and steroid agents in treating otological infections but no controlled clinical trial has directly compared 2% glacial acetic acid (EarCalm; Stafford-Miller Ltd, Brentford, UK) against 2% glacial acetic acid, 0.1% dexamethasone and 3250 U/ml of neomycin sulphate (Otomize; Stafford-Miller Ltd) in the treatment of otitis externa and infected mastoid cavities. DESIGN: Prospective, single-blind randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Outpatients, Derby Royal Infirmary, Derby, UK. PATIENTS: Emergency and GP referrals with acute otitis externa (n = 53) and infected mastoid cavities (n = 56). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Otoscopy was performed at initial randomisation and then at 2 and 4 weeks, the ear assessed for active and inactive disease. RESULTS: Patients with active otitis externa, 71% (15/21) resolved with glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and of neomycin sulphate after 2 weeks, increasing to 86% (18/21) after 4 weeks treatment. Patients on glacial acetic acid had only 38% (12/32) resolution after 4 weeks (P < 0.0005). Two per cent glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and neomycin sulphate resolved only 30% (8/27) of infected mastoid cavities compared to only 10% (3/29) on glacial acetic acid (P < 0.07). A further 2 weeks treatment this increased to 67%, (18/27) with glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and neomycin sulphate and 48% (14/29) with glacial acetic acid. These results are not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Glacial acetic acid, dexamethasone and neomycin sulphate is significantly more effective in treating otitis externa when compared with glacial acetic acid. This effect failed to be significant in the infected mastoid cavities group. We therefore recommend that in conjunction with aural toilet, antibiotic/steroid combination is more effective than an antibacterial agent for otitis externa. Larger numbers of infected mastoid cavities are required to be studied.