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. 2020 Jan 2;2020(1):CD013051. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013051.pub2

4. Resolution of ear discharge outcome.

Reference Unit of randomisation Reported Definition Otoscopically confirmed? Time points Notes
Asmatullah 2014 Person Person "no discharge" Yes 1 to 2 weeks (10 days)
de Miguel 1999 Person Person "global index of clinic microbiological cure" Yes 1 to 2 weeks (7 days)
Esposito 1990 Person Person "cured" (no definition but assumed to be no discharge) Unclear, paper states "clinically examined" 1 week to 2 weeks (6 to 11 days) and 2 to 4 weeks (19 to 24 days) 1 to 2 weeks examined but not reported
Fradis 1997 Ear Ear "clinical success as defined as cessation of otorrhea and eradication of the microorganisms in the post treatment culture" Unclear 2 to 4 weeks (21 days) Unclear how many patients had bilateral ear disease in each group
Gyde 1978 Person Ear "dry ear" and a negative culture at 3 weeks or a real improvement in at 3 weeks and the cessation of discharge at 6 weeks Unclear 2 to 4 weeks (3 weeks) and after 4 weeks (6 weeks) Semi cross‐over trial. It does not appear that any consideration of the correlation of results between ears has been taken into account.
If there was a treatment failure 'ears' were transferred to the alternative groups. These results have not been included in the analysis.
If the ear was not dry on review at 6 months, treatment for 3 weeks with the alternative treatment was completed with review after 6 months
Jamalullah 2016 Person Person "absence" of aural discharge Yes 2 to 4 weeks (2 weeks)
Kasemsuwan 1997 Person Person "cure" Unclear 1 to 2 weeks (7 days)
Kaygusuz 2002 Person Ear Assessed using 3‐point scale (2 points = no drainage) Yes 2 to 4 weeks (day 14 and 21) Unclear method of allocation, unsure if random selection of study ear
Liu 2003 Person Person "Cured: otorrhea disappeared, mucosal hyperaemia of the tympanic membrane and tympanic cavity disappeared.
Significantly effective: no complaints of otorrhea, no visible purulence in the ear canal and tympanic cavity, and nonvisible or slight hyperaemia of the tympanic membrane and the tympanic canal"
Unclear 1 to 2 weeks (2 weeks)
Lorente 1995 Person Person "Complete resolution of ear discharge" Yes 1 to 2 weeks (8 days) and after 4 weeks (30 days)
Mira 1993 Person Person Not reported in a way that could be used in the review N/A N/A Paper plotted the time course of otorrhoea (quantity) on a scale of 0 to 3 at 3, 7 and 21 days
Nawasreh 2001 Person Person "cessation of otorrhea" Yes 1 to 2 weeks (10 days)
Ramos 2003 Person Person "cured" according to "indices de curacion" Unclear 1 to 2 weeks (10 days)
Siddique 2016 Person Person "absence of discharge from middle ear cavity and no inflammation/congestion in middle ear mucosa and tympanic membrane" Unclear 2 to 4 weeks (4 weeks) 15 patients (8%) had bilateral disease but how these cases were handled is not stated. The denominator in the trials is the person so it is assumed that no double counting occurred.
Tutkun 1995 Person Person "cessation of otorrhea" Yes 1 to 2 weeks (10 days)
van Hasselt 1997 Unclear, most likely person Ear "dry ear" Unclear 1 to 2 weeks (1 week) and after 4 weeks (> 2 weeks) Counting bilateral ears separately. All ears reported separately.
Data come from an unpublished report. In the analysis 3/11 (27.27%), 10/30 (33%) and 11/28 (39%) of patients had bilateral disease in the ofloxacin, neomycin and antiseptic acid groups respectively.
van Hasselt 1998a Unclear Ear "inactive ear" ‐ completely dry middle ear Unclear 1 to 2 weeks (1 week), 2 to 4 weeks (2 weeks) and after 4 weeks (8 weeks) Counting bilateral ears separately

N/A: not applicable