Neomycin Ear Drops for Infections

Ear Infection

When using Neomycin ear drops to treat an ear infection, there are a few important facts you should know. While Neomycin ear drops can successfully treat specific types of bacterial infections, improper use can cause significant damage to the ear and permanent hearing loss.

Function

Neomycin ear drops are a sterile antibacterial and anti-inflammatory solution used to treat bacterial infections of the external ear canal.

Considerations

Neomycin ear drops should not be used if the ear infection is suspected or known to be caused by a cutaneous viral infection, such as Varicella zoster virus or Herpes simplex virus.

Application

Before administering Neomycin ear drops, the external auditory canal should be cleansed and dried with a sterile cotton swab. The patient should lie with the infected ear facing upwards and four drops of Neomycin should be dropped into the ear. The patient should remain in this position for at least five minutes. The procedure should be repeated three or four times per day.

Warning

Neomycin ear drops should not be used on patients with a tympanic perforation or open mastoid cavity, as Neomycin is extremely toxic to the part of the inner ear responsible for hearing. If Neomycin reaches these internal parts of the ear, it could result in permanent hearing loss.

Solution

The risks related to Neomycin ear drops increase with prolonged use. For this reason, patients should be monitored closely during treatment and should only take the Neomycin ear drops for a maximum of 10 consecutive days.

References

• Neomycin, Polymyxin, Hydrocortisone Ear Drops
• Ototoxicity From Ear Drops
• Topical Antibiotic Ear Drops: Are They Safe?: Human Studies