Abstract Introduction: Antibiotic resistance is fast emerging as the biggest threat to mankind in the modern era. The present randomized controlled trials tries to evaluate the role of glacial acetic acid (GAA) aural irrigation in treating chronic otitis media mucosal type and reducing the use of oral antibiotics in these patients. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in a tertiary care institute. A total of 100 participants fulfilling inclusion criteria were divided into two groups of 50 patients each with use of block randomisation. Group GAA received GAA irrigation alternate day along with culture specific oral antibiotics. Group normal saline (NS) underwent NS irrigation on a similar schedule along with culture specific antibiotics. Both groups of patients were evaluated for symptomatic relief based on predefined treatment endpoint. Results: The GAA group included 50 participants, with 32 females and 18 males. The NS group had 50 participants (29 females and 21 males). Both groups were similar in baseline characteristics. The patients in the GAA group achieved the treatment endpoint in 6.48 ± 1.83 days, as compared to 11.12 ± 1.98 days taken by the NS group. This early resolution of symptoms resulted in significantly shorter duration of oral antibiotic treatment in the GAA group. Conclusion: This prospective randomized controlled trial points to the usefulness of GAA irrigation in shortening the duration of oral antibiotic treatment in patients of COM mucosal. GAA irrigation also reduces the duration of active ear discharge in these patients.
Kumar et al. (2026) studied this question.