Chloramphinicol (chloromycetin) in treatment of aural infections.

A RECENT report has indicated that chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin) used locally is of value in the treatment of infected ears. 1 Ears draining because of many causes (acute and chronic external otitis, otitis media with central and marginal perforations of the tympanic membrane, and postoperative mastoid cavities) were treated with a 1.5% solution of chloramphenicol. The primary diluent of the drug was acetyl dimethylamine, secondarily diluted with 70% alcohol. The use of this drug resulted in cessation of drainage in 78% of the ears so treated. Many other drugs have been similarly locally used for relief of drainage in diseased ears. Among these can be mentioned nitrofurazone (Furacin),* dihydrostreptomycin-boric acid powder, 5 a sulfanilimide derivative (Sulfamylon),† streptomycin, 8 Sulfamylon and streptomycin, 9 and polymyxin-bacitracin. 10 Peele 2 refers to over 50 articles on various medications (not all different) used in treating draining ears, including many of those previously noted. It is,