Are topical antibiotics required for the treatment of otitis externa?

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ISRCTN

Registry ID

ISRCTN04939619

Enrollment

Registered

2006-10-20

Start date

2003-06-01

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2015-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Otitis Externa Ear, Nose and Throat Otitis Externa

Interventions

Aural toilet and Vista Metasone topical drops versus Aural toilet and topical Vista Metasone-N over a 2 week period

Eligibility

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Patients with otitis externa presenting to the otolaryngology emergency clinic of an acute urban teaching hospital.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: 1. Patients under the age of 18 years 2. Diabetics 3. Immunocompromise 4. Evidence of concurrent middle ear disease 5. Non-English speakers 6. Mental impairment 7. Allergy to the medicine 8. Previous treatment with the trial medication 9. Patients declining to participate

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Subjects' visual analogue symptom scores for otitis externa pre and post treatment.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Observer' s visual analogue scores for signs of otitis externa pre and post treatment.	—

Countries

United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ISRCTN (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026