Anti-microbial and therapeutic effects of modified Burow's solution on refractory otorrhea

Burow's solution, which contains 13% aluminum acetate, has been shown to be effective against chronic otitis media. Since the preparation of Burow's solution is time-consuming, its rapid preparation method has been recently developed. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of the modified Burow's solution on refractory otorrhea in patients with chronic suppurative otitis and its anti-microbial activity in vitro.

Fourteen ears of 12 patients with chronic otitis media, granular myringitis, otitis externa and postoperative mastoid cavity problems were treated topically with cotton swab/ball soaked with modified Burow's solution or its four-fold diluted ear drops once a week. We then examined the antimicrobial spectrum of modified Burow's solution against clinical bacterial isolates from otorrhea and laboratory bacterial strains in vitro.

In all ears, refractory otorrhea disappeared after 1-17 weeks treatment of modified Burow's solution with a mean of 5.4 weeks without apparent side-effects such as ototoxicity. Modified Burow's solution inactivated all Gram positive bacteria within 5min except Enterococcus species, all Gram negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa within 30s and Candida albicans within 2min. In addition, modified Burow's solution inactivated MRSA completely within 5min, while 80.6% of MRSA survived even a 20-min contact with 0.3% ofloxacin.

These findings indicate that modified Burow's solution, in addition to bearing a broad antimicrobial activity, is as effective as the original Burow's solution in the treatment of chronic suppurative otitis.