Clinical experiences with ofloxacin sequential therapy in chronic ear infections

Quinolones are the drugs of first choice in therapy of chronic ear infections with multiresistant bacteria, especially because of their efficacy against various Pseudomonas species and their lack of ototoxicity. According to clinical experience, best results can be obtained after application of the sequential treatment schedule. To verify this, 61 patients with acute exacerbations of chronic ear infections were treated sequentially with ofloxacin. After a single dose of 400 mg ofloxacin intravenously, the treatment was continued orally with 400 mg once a day over 7 days. Microbiological and serological examination was performed just prior to and 1 week after treatment. Predominant bacteria isolated from the patients' ears were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae spp. Following treatment, infections were cured in 23% of cases and 59% showed improvement. Eighteen percent of the cases were persistent, mainly due to epitympanic chronic otitis media, which was an indication for surgical intervention. In general, sequential therapy with ofloxacin revealed encouraging clinical results based on improved patient compliance with the treatment schedule recommended.