Chemotherapy of otitis media with ofloxacin

This study evaluated the therapeutic role of ofloxacin in different forms of otitis media. After identifying the infecting bacteria in 250 patients with acute otitis media, or chronic otitis media, the clinical efficacy of orally administered ofloxacin 200mg twice daily was assessed in 45 patients from each of these groups. The clinical results were comparable with those obtained after conventional local and oral antibiotic therapy. Microbiological examination of the ear secretions revealed Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae to be the main pathogens in acute otitis media, whereas in chronic otitis media P. aeruginosa and Proteus sp. were detected in most of the cases. Ofloxacin concentrations in secretions and mucosa specimens of the middle ear exceeded serum concentrations by more than 2-fold. On the basis of these preliminary results, ofloxacin appears to be an effective orally administered agent, without ototoxicity, which is effective against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, 2 important pathogens in middle ear infections. Ofloxacin should be considered as an alternative for the therapy of otitis media, especially the chronic forms.