Cochrane · systematic review · CD013054
Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media
Brennan-Jones, CG, Chong, L-Y, Head, K, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2020 · Cochrane Library
ENTAMSTAR 2: not assessed
SoF tableOnly the outcomes this review put in its Summary of Findings table are listed (the Cochrane Handbook caps them at about seven per comparison). Its other analyses are not shown here.
Questions
21
current version
GRADE rated
14
No studies
7
Included studies
NR
No studies 7 · 33.3%Ungraded 0 · 0%Very low 12 · 57.1%Low 2 · 9.5%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
Questions and results
Topical antibiotics with steroids compared to placebo/no treatment for chronic suppurative otitis media
Population: people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Resolution of ear discharge at between 1 and up to 2 weeks Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Resolution of ear discharge after 4 weeks Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 50 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness |
Health‐related quality of life Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Ear pain (otalgia) or discomfort or local irritation Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 123 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness, publication bias |
Hearing Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 123 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness, publication bias |
Serious complications (including intracranial complications, extracranial complications and death) Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 173 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness, publication bias |
Suspected ototoxicity Topical antibiotics with steroids vs placebo/no treatment | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 123 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, indirectness, publication bias |
Topical antibiotics with steroids compared to topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) for chronic suppurative otitis media
Population: people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Resolution of ear discharge at between 1 to 2 weeks Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) | RR 1.08 [0.96, 1.21] | 3 studies · 335 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, publication bias |
Resolution of ear discharge after 4 weeks Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Health‐related quality of life Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Ear pain (otalgia) or discomfort or local irritation Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) | RR 0.98 | 1 study · 105 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |
Hearing Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 135 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |
Serious complications (including intracranial complications, extracranial complications and death) Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Suspected ototoxicity Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone (same antibiotics) | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 395 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |
Topical antibiotics with steroids compared to topical antibiotics alone for chronic suppurative otitis media
Population: people (of any age) with chronic suppurative otitis media or ear discharge
| Outcome | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Resolution of ear discharge at between 1 to 2 weeks Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone | RR 0.77 [0.71, 0.84] | 7 studies · 903 participants | Low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |
Resolution of ear discharge after 4 weeks Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Health‐related quality of life Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone | no estimate extracted | NR | No studies |
Ear pain or discomfort at 14 weeks Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone | RR 1.08 [0.07, 16.36] | 1 study · 52 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |
Hearing Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 419 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |
Serious complications (including intracranial complications, extracranial complications and death) Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 149 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |
Suspected ototoxicity: dizziness/vertigo/balance Topical antibiotics with steroids vs topical antibiotics alone | RR 0.46 [0.04, 4.8] | 1 study · 52 participants | Very low Downgraded: risk of bias, imprecision, publication bias |