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Treatment of acute otitis media in general practice: quality variations across countries

Malene Plejdrup Hansen1, Dorte Ejg Jarbol, Bente Gahrn-Hansen

  • 1Research Unit of General Practice, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9A, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. mplejdrup@health.sdu.dk

Family Practice
|August 6, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Antibiotic prescribing for acute otitis media (AOM) varies significantly across countries, with most patients receiving antibiotics. Factors like symptom duration, ear discharge, and fever influence antibiotic use in AOM treatment.

Area of Science:

  • General Practice
  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Current guidelines for acute otitis media (AOM) treatment often suggest initial observation.
  • Antibiotic therapy is typically reserved for specific cases, such as in children under two years old or when ear discharge is present.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the quality of AOM treatment in general practice.
  • To analyze how GP and patient characteristics affect antibiotic prescribing for AOM.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective study involving 1175 patients diagnosed with AOM across six countries (Lithuania, Kaliningrad, Spain, Argentina, Sweden, Denmark) during winter 2008.
  • Data collected included patient age and sex, symptom duration, fever, ear discharge, and prescribed antibiotic treatment.

Main Results:

  • Antibiotic prescription rates for AOM ranged from 72.7% in Denmark to 97.1% in Kaliningrad.
  • Narrow-spectrum penicillin was common in Nordic countries, while broad-spectrum antibiotics were prevalent elsewhere.
  • Antibiotic prescribing was linked to longer symptom duration (>3 days), ear discharge, and fever.

Conclusions:

  • Most AOM patients received antibiotics, despite varying international prescribing rates and antibiotic choices.
  • Significant variations in antibiotic prescribing practices for AOM were observed across the studied general practices.

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