Scholarlink

<p>Acute otitis externa (AOE) is a common inflammatory condition of the external ear canal, predominantly caused by bacterial infections such as <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. In India, the hot and humid climate is conducive to the development of AOE, often leading to a polymicrobial infection. The standard treatment for uncomplicated AOE involves topical antimicrobials, but there is increasing use of combination therapy with systemic antibiotics, raising concerns about antibiotic resistance and adverse effects. This randomized, controlled, single-blinded study aimed to compare the efficacy of topical therapy using an ear wick (Ciprofloxacin + Dexamethasone or Ichthammol glycerine) alone versus combination therapy with an additional oral antibiotic (Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid) in patients with AOE. A total of 108 adult patients with AOE were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group A (<i>n</i> = 54) received topical therapy alone, while Group B (<i>n</i> = 54) received combination therapy with oral antibiotics and topical medications. Patients were followed until complete recovery, with assessments based on recovery rate, duration of illness, and number of hospital visits. The study found that patients in Group B (combination therapy) demonstrated a significantly higher recovery rate (96%) compared to Group A (87%), a shorter duration of illness (mean 4.82 vs. 6.90 days), and fewer hospital visits (mean 2.98 vs. 5.13 visits). Despite the improved outcomes, some patients in Group B experienced adverse reactions to oral antibiotics. The study suggests that combination therapy is more effective than topical therapy alone for the treatment of AOE in terms of faster recovery and reduced hospital visits. However, potential adverse effects and the risk of antibiotic resistance highlight the need for judicious use of systemic antibiotics. Future research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up is necessary to refine treatment strategies in polymicrobial settings like India.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

A Randomized Control Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Topical Antibiotics Versus Combination Therapy in Patients with Otitis Externa

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月21日

查看全文
  • Varsha Raghu,
  • Subagar Anbarasan,
  • Nishit Kakka,
  • I Praveen Kumar

摘要

Acute otitis externa (AOE) is a common inflammatory condition of the external ear canal, predominantly caused by bacterial infections such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. In India, the hot and humid climate is conducive to the development of AOE, often leading to a polymicrobial infection. The standard treatment for uncomplicated AOE involves topical antimicrobials, but there is increasing use of combination therapy with systemic antibiotics, raising concerns about antibiotic resistance and adverse effects. This randomized, controlled, single-blinded study aimed to compare the efficacy of topical therapy using an ear wick (Ciprofloxacin + Dexamethasone or Ichthammol glycerine) alone versus combination therapy with an additional oral antibiotic (Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid) in patients with AOE. A total of 108 adult patients with AOE were randomly assigned to two treatment groups. Group A (n = 54) received topical therapy alone, while Group B (n = 54) received combination therapy with oral antibiotics and topical medications. Patients were followed until complete recovery, with assessments based on recovery rate, duration of illness, and number of hospital visits. The study found that patients in Group B (combination therapy) demonstrated a significantly higher recovery rate (96%) compared to Group A (87%), a shorter duration of illness (mean 4.82 vs. 6.90 days), and fewer hospital visits (mean 2.98 vs. 5.13 visits). Despite the improved outcomes, some patients in Group B experienced adverse reactions to oral antibiotics. The study suggests that combination therapy is more effective than topical therapy alone for the treatment of AOE in terms of faster recovery and reduced hospital visits. However, potential adverse effects and the risk of antibiotic resistance highlight the need for judicious use of systemic antibiotics. Future research with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up is necessary to refine treatment strategies in polymicrobial settings like India.