N-Acetylcysteine as an adjunct for refractory ear infections

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Chronic otorrhea poses a significant challenge in otolaryngology.
• Existing treatments often fail in refractory cases of otitis media.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of Ciprodex otic augmented with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) for difficult-to-treat ear infections.
• To assess the safety profile of this combination therapy.

Main Methods:

• Seven subjects with persistent otorrhea (average 18.4 months) despite multiple treatments were enrolled.
• Participants received Ciprodex otic with either 0.5% or 2% NAC.
• Outcomes included cessation of otorrhea and serial audiometry to assess for ototoxicity.

Main Results:

• Cessation of otorrhea was achieved in 6 out of 7 subjects within approximately 4 weeks.
• One subject required ongoing suppressive therapy, and one failed due to noncompliance.
• No ototoxicity was detected through audiometric evaluations.

Conclusions:

• Ciprodex otic with NAC demonstrates significant efficacy in treating refractory ear infections.
• This augmented therapy presents a simple, potent option for managing challenging cases of otorrhea.
• The treatment appears safe, with no evidence of hearing impairment.