A meta-analysis comparing the efficacy and safety of different modes of administration of cream in the treatment of otomycosis

Abstract Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of two different modes of administration, external ear canal filling and smearing, in the treatment of otomycosis. Methods A computerised search of relevant published studies in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Biology Medicine, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases that include randomised controlled trials or clinically controlled trials on the same drug in different modes of administration for the treatment of otomycosis. Results Seven studies with 934 patients were included. The filled group had a higher clinical efficacy (relative risk = 1.18, 95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1.12–1.24, p < 0.0001) and a lower recurrence rate (relative risk = 0.29, 95 per cent CI 0.18–0.47, p < 0.0001) compared with the smear group, and there was no significant difference in the adverse effects (relative risk = 0.61, 95 per cent CI 0.34–1.12, p = 0.11). Conclusion Current evidence suggests that the efficacy of the delivery modality of the external auditory canal filling treatment is significantly better than external auditory canal smearing.