A comparative study of the effect of Ofloxacin on acute otitis media and the acute exacerbation of chronic otitis media between oral medicine and otic solution

Abstract

The efficacy and safety of Ofloxacin (OFLX) in acute otitis media and acute exacerbation of chronic supprative otitis media were compared between the use of oral medicine and otic solution. The patients were divided into two groups. One received 0.3% otic solution of OFLX twice a day for 7 days (n=28). The other orally received 600mg of OFLX three times a day for 7 days (n=25). The clinical efficacy of the otic solution and the oral OFLX medicine were 82% and 72%, respectively; and the difference was not significant (P=0.69). The bacteriological elimination rate was 79% in those treated with the otic solution and 81% in those treated with oral medicine; the difference was not significant (P=0.50). No side effect was observed in any patients (0%) treated with otic solution and side effect in only one patient (0.04%) treated with the oral medicine who showed some stomach discomfort. These findings suggested that the 0.3% otic solution of OFLX was as useful as the oral medication in treating both otitis media and an acute exacerbation of chronic supprative otitis media and is thus recommended instead of oral medication, especially in children and patients with severe general condintion.