Fradis 1997

Methods	RCT
Participants	See Table 03 51 participants (aged 18 to 73), contributing 60 ears with purulent disease were randomised; 54 ears analysed. 3 ears had surgical perforations and no perforation could be seen in 8 ears due to granulation tissue ‐ not analysed separately.
Interventions	See Table 04 1) Topical quinolone antibiotic eardrops: ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 2) Topical non‐quinolone antibiotic eardrops: tobramycin 3) Topical antiseptic eardrops: 1% Burow aluminium acetate solution (weak antiseptic, as designated "placebo" by the trialists) All treatments: 3 times daily, for 3 weeks.
Outcomes	See Table 05 Review outcomes assessed: 1) CSOM resolution/failure (persistent discharge at 2 to 4 weeks) ** 2) Improvement in hearing threshold ** * Outcomes not included in this review were also assessed ‐ see table 05 *
Notes	Setting: outpatient clinic of the otolaryngology department of a university teaching hospital. Location: Haifa, Israel. Study time‐period: 01 January 1994 ‐ 01 December 1995.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Low risk	A ‐ Adequate