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Therapy of acute otitis media. Clinical and economic aspects
1College of Pharmacy, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA.
Insights
Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood illness often treated with antibiotics. Optimal antimicrobial selection requires considering local resistance patterns, drug efficacy, and patient factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Acute otitis media (AOM) is a prevalent global health concern, particularly impacting preschool-aged children.
- Antimicrobial therapy is the standard treatment for AOM, with 25% of US pediatric prescriptions for children under 10 being for this condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the need for further research into optimal antimicrobial selection for AOM.
- To emphasize the importance of considering various factors in clinical decision-making for AOM treatment.
Main Methods:
- This review synthesizes current knowledge on AOM epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options.
- It emphasizes the need for evidence-based guidelines for antimicrobial use in AOM.
Main Results:
- Current treatment decisions for AOM rely on local susceptibility data, in vitro/in vivo studies, and drug characteristics.
- Further studies are needed to address antimicrobial selection and cost-effectiveness for AOM.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers must be aware of AOM's epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment options.
- Informed decisions regarding antimicrobial therapy for AOM should balance efficacy, safety, tolerability, and cost.
Abstract:
Acute otitis media is a common health problem worldwide that accounts for significant morbidity, primarily among pre-school-age children, for which antimicrobial therapy is currently the treatment of choice. Approximately 25% of all prescriptions written in the US for children under the age of 10 years are for children diagnosed as having acute otitis media. Until adequately designed studies with appropriate patient populations are conducted, clinicians must base their decisions to treat acute otitis media with antimicrobial therapy, and their choice of drug, on local susceptibility patterns (if known), in vitro and in vivo studies, adverse effect profiles, tolerability, and affordability. Such studies will hopefully answer questions about selecting an antimicrobial for acute otitis media and address the comprehensive cost of using various antimicrobials for the condition. Because of the human and economic costs associated with acute otitis media, healthcare practitioners should also be aware of the epidemiology, pathophysiology and various treatment options for children with acute otitis media.