Patient compliance with short-term topical aural antibiotic therapy

Little is known about patient compliance with topical aural antibiotic regimens. The compliance of 50 patients with unilateral otitis externa attending an otolaryngology clinic was studied by comparing the weight of dispensed topical ear preparations before and after completion of a 7-day-course of treatment. A standard was obtained from controlled administration of the preparation under laboratory conditions and the performance of different delivery systems evaluated. Thirty-seven patients re-attended for review with their medication. A total of 34 of 50 patients entering the study (70%) satisfied conventional criteria for compliance. However, over-use of preparations was common and stricter criteria are proposed and applied. Compliance was significantly increased when someone other than the patient administered the preparation.