EFFICACY OF ACETIC ACID VERSUS CIPROFLOXACIN EAR DROPS IN ACHIEVING DRY EARS IN CHRONIC SUPPURATIVE OTITIS MEDIA IN ADULT POPULATION OF ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN: A NON-RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

Background: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSMO) is an important cause of preventable hearing loss, particularly in developing world. The objective of this trial was to compare efficacy of 2% acetic acid versus 0.3% ciprofloxacin ear drops in achieving dry ears in CSMO in adult population of Islamabad, Pakistan. Materials & Methods: This trial was conducted at Department of ENT, HBS Medical College, Islamabad, Pakistan from March 2018 to February 2019. With alpha 5%, beta 20% and power of study 80%, sample size was calculated 47 for each group. All adult patients of CSOM, having ear discharge for more than three months were eligible. Patients with aural poly, external auditory canal pathology, ear malignancy, having mastoid surgery in preceding 12 months or having used antibiotics in last one week were excluded. Experimental group received 2% acetic acid, twice daily while control group received 0.3% ciprofloxacin eardrops twice daily. At two weeks, achievement of dry ears was noted. Sex and age in years were matching variables. Primary end point was achieving dry ears, which was compared between the two groups using McNemar chi-square test. Results: Experimental group included 30 (63.8%) men and 17 (36.2%) women and control group included 32 (68%) men and 15 (32%) women. Mean age of experimental group 36±2.14 years was matching to the control group 36±2.59 years. Dry ears were achieved in 35 (74.47%) patients in experimental group and in 11 (23.40%) patients in control group. The efficacy of 2% acetic acid was significantly higher than 0.3% ciprofloxacin eardrops in achieving dry ears (p