Doi:10.1016/s0031-398x(05)70762-

Infectious Diseases
P E D I AT R I C N E W S • D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 5 Ototoxicity Not Seen With Brief Trial of Cortisporin B Y P AT R I C E W E N D L I N G
An analysis showed the total cost for us- ing Cortisporin or a generic was $15,500 at equivalent for 5 days after ventilation tube L O S A N G E L E S — Cortisporin Otic did “The motivation for this study began af- if Floxin (ofloxacin otic solution 0.3%) had not cause ototoxicity and was cost effec- ter our entire group felt significant pres- $49,500 if Ciprodex (ciprofloxacin 0.3% and to a large retrospective review at a tertiary hearing loss was found in 33 ears (3.6%).
sion) had been prescribed at $99 per bottle.
in 19 cases (2.1%). The loss existed prior tional trial lawyer associations and found fective, but the cost is significant, Leonard no evidence of clinical ototoxicity in 500 to surgery in all 19 cases, and there was no no ototoxicity cases settled in or out of P. Berenholz, M.D., reported at the annu- deterioration postoperatively, he said.
aminoglycosides such as Cortisporin indi-cate the potential risk when there is anopen tympanic membrane,” said PaulCockrum, Pharm.D., manager of clinical The total cost of
using Cortisporin
or a generic was
$15,500 at $31
a bottle. That
compares with
$45,000 if Floxin
prescribed at $90
a bottle.
was formed in 2004 at the request of theAmerican Academy of Otolaryngolo-gy–Head and Neck Surgery Foundationdue to rising legal claims against physi-cians, recommendations by British andCanadian medical organizations to limitthe use of potentially ototoxic ototopicalantibiotics, the availability of nonototox-ic preparations, and a lack of an evidence-based review of these issues.
The panel said, when possible, topical an- Supporting your pediatric vaccine needs
tibiotic preparations free of potential oto- every step of the way
toxicity should be used. But the academy haselected not to convert the recommendationsto official policy, said Kenneth Satterfield,media relations director for the academy.
Otic states that, “Neomycin can inducepermanent sensorineural hearing loss dueto cochlear damage, mainly destruction ofhair cells in the organ of Corti” and that“ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity have alsobeen reported,” commented MelvynBloom, M.D., director of medical servicesand safety for Daiichi PharmaceuticalCorp., which markets Floxin Otic.
Based on his findings, Dr. Berenholz rec- ommends using Cortisporin for less than1 week and reserving the tertiary charac- To order Sanofi Pasteur Inc. pediatric vaccines, log on to www.vaccineshoppe.com or call 1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463).
ter of fluoroquinolones for resistant oracute cases or difficult chronic ears.
Before administering, please see full Prescribing Information for DAPTACEL, ActHIB, IPOL, Tripedia, and TriHIBit vaccines. DAPTACEL vaccine is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur Limited (formerly Aventis Pasteur Limited) and distributed by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. (formerly Aventis Pasteur Inc.). sanofi pasteur
ActHIB and IPOL vaccines are manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur SA (formerly Aventis Pasteur SA) and distributed by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. (formerly Aventis Pasteur Inc.). Tripedia and TriHIBit vaccines are manufactured and distributed by Sanofi Pasteur Inc. ate children who had ear tubes placedwithout postoperative topical antibioticdrops and those who received Cortisporinor Ciprodex.

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