Efficacy of Pyodine Soaked Gelfoam vs Single Topical Application of Clotrimazole in Treatment of Otomycosis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Zuneera Shabbir; Ahmed Hasan Ashfaq; Muhammad Arshad; Nida Riaz

doi:10.1007/s12070-024-05076-x

Efficacy of Pyodine Soaked Gelfoam vs Single Topical Application of Clotrimazole in Treatment of Otomycosis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2024 Dec;76(6):5091-5097. doi: 10.1007/s12070-024-05076-x. Epub 2024 Sep 17.

Authors

Zuneera Shabbir¹, Ahmed Hasan Ashfaq¹, Muhammad Arshad¹, Nida Riaz¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of ENT, Head & Neck Surgery, Benazir Bhutto Hospital Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

PMID: 39559157
PMCID: PMC11569355 (available on 2025-12-01)
DOI: 10.1007/s12070-024-05076-x

Abstract

To compare the efficacy of gel foam-soaked pyodine with a single topical application of clotrimazole ointment in the treatment of otomycosis. This randomized controlled trial included 90 patients who presented to ENT OPD with complaints of earache, watery ear discharge, pruritis, and ear blockage and were clinically diagnosed as a case of otomycosis via otoscopy. The external auditory canal of the patient was cleared of fungal debris via suction before treatment. In Group A, the ear canal was filled with 1% clotrimazole ointment by using an IV catheter and syringe and in Group B 10% pyodine-soaked gel foam was placed in the external auditory canal. The patients were followed up on post-treatment days 7 and 14. The results showed that out of 90 patients with otomycosis, the left ear was affected in 50(55.6%) patients and the right ear in 40(44.4%). 8(8.9%) of 90 patients had controlled preexisting diabetes mellitus. On the 7th post-treatment follow-up day, 17 (41.5%) patients in Group A and 28(66.7%) patients in Group B showed no fungal spores. Other symptom resolution was also comparable in both groups. At the 14th day follow-up 33(80.5%) patients in Group A and 38(92.7% patients in Group B showed no fungal hyphae on otoscopy. In terms of treatment response 19(46.34%) patients in Group A and 21(51.21%) patients in Group B showed good treatment response at the end of 2nd post-treatment week with a p-value of 0.798. yodine-soaked gel foam placement in the external auditory canal is a safe and effective method for the treatment of otomycosis with the efficiency of this method comparable to a single topical clotrimazole ointment application.

Keywords: Clotrimazole ointment; Otomycosis; Pyodine (povidone iodine).

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