Method of treating middle ear infections

1. A method of treating a middle ear infection in a human patient comprising the steps of:

(a) diagnosing the patient as having otitis media and an open tympanic membrane in at least one ear; and

(b) topically applying into the ear canal of the patient's ear an aqueous suspension composition containing a combination of ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone, wherein the composition comprises

a) 0.01-0.5% (wt.) dexamethasone;

b) 0.1-0.4% (wt.) ciprofloxacin;

c) a tonicity agent consisting essentially of NaCl in an amount sufficient to cause the composition to have an osmolality of about 250-350 mOsm;

d) 0.1-0.5% (wt.) of a nonionic polymer;

e) 0.01-0.2% (wt.) of a nonionic surfactant; and

f) a buffer,

wherein the composition has a pH from about 3-5.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the dexamethasone is dexamethasone alcohol and the ciprofloxacin is ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, monohydrate.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous suspension composition contains 0.1% (wt.) dexamethasone and 0.3% (wt.) ciprofloxacin.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein three or four drops of the aqueous suspension composition are administered to the patient's ear twice a day, wherein each drop is 30-35 μL.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous suspension composition consists essentially of

a) 0.1% (wt.) dexamethasone alcohol;

b) 0.35% (wt.) ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, monohydrate;

c) NaCl in an amount sufficient to cause the composition to have an osmolality of about 250-350 mOsm;

d) 0.2% (wt.) hydroxyethyl cellulose;

e) 0.05% (wt.) tyloxapol;

f) a buffer comprising sodium acetate and acetic acid;

g) 0.01% (wt.) benzalkonium chloride;

h) 0.01% (wt.) edetate disodium;

i) 0.6% (wt.) boric acid; and

wherein the composition has a pH of about 4.5.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of pumping the tragus to force the aqueous suspension composition through the open tympanic membrane and into the middle ear.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the dexamethasone has an average particle size on a mean volume basis of less than 3 μm.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the otitis media is acute otitis media.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the otitis media is chronic supprative otitis media.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous suspension composition containing a combination of ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone is packaged with directions for use that indicate the composition may be used to treat otitis media in patients with an open tympanic membrane.