Safety and Efficacy Study of Foam Otic Cipro Compared to a Standard Solution ( Ciloxan - Alcon Labs ) to Treat Acute Otitis Externa

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18 and older eligible to sign by themselves.
• Have a clinical diagnosis of Acute Otitis Externa based on clinical observation and of presumed bacterial origin.
• Intact tympanic membrane
• Unilateral Acute Otitis Externa

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known allergy or sensitivity to Ciprofloxacin or other quinolones.
• Clinical Diagnosis of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), acute otitis media (AOM), involvement of middle ear effusion (MEE).
• Patient has the non intact tympanic membrane.
• Patient has a serious underlying disease.
• Patients with known history of immune dysfunction/deficiency and those receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
• Patients with history of Diabetes mellitus.
• Bilateral Acute Otitis Externa.
• Patients with more than 80% of the ear canal occluded.
• Pregnant or lactating patients.
• Overt fungal Acute Otitis Externa.
• Local ear canal abnormalities such as abscess, granulation or polyps.
• Congenital abnormalities of the external auditory canal or obstructive bony exostosis in the treated ear.
• Mastoid or other suppurative non-infectious ear disorder (e.g. cholesteatoma) in the treated ear.
• Seborrheic dermatitis or other dermatological conditions of the external auditory canal which would complicate evaluation.
• Current Infection requiring systemic antimicrobial therapy.
• Current or previous use of topical or oral antibiotics (within 3 days) or long-acting antibiotics (within 7 days).
• Current enrollment in an investigational drug or device study or participation in such a study within 30 days of entry into this study.