Guidelines for the treatment of tympanostomy tube otorrhea.

Treatment of tympanostomy tube otorrhea has evolved with numerous studies demonstrating the superiority of topical therapy in the form of eardrops over systemic antibiotic therapy. Many physicians have been concerned about ototoxicity with antibiotic eardrops because several ototopical agents have a risk of vestibular and cochlear damage, which may be permanent. An expert round table of pediatric and general otolaryngologists, pediatricians, and family physicians met in Quebec City in May 2004 to develop practical Canadian guidelines for the safe treatment of tympanostomy tube otorrhea. The recommendations and guidelines are outlined.