Erythromycin ototoxicity

Abstract

Erythromycin is considered one of the safest antibiotics in common use today. In its otolaryngologic use, the authors have found it effective in treating acute suppurative sinusitis and occasionally otitis media, when combined with sulfonamides. There are few complications of erythromycin administration. Probably the least generally acknowledged of these is ototoxicity. There have been three reports of six cases with ototoxic complications from erythromycin, primarily from administration of its intravenous form. The authors present a case study of an 18 year old girl in severe renal failure, who suffered a reversible sensorineural hearing loss from high doses of an oral erythromycin preparation. The clinical manifestations of this case are compared to those previously reported.