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Updated: Aug 1, 2025
Trans-Tympanic Drug Delivery for the Treatment of Ototoxicity
Published on: March 16, 2018
New insights into the treatment of acute otitis media
Rana E El Feghaly1,2, Amanda Nedved1,2, Sophie E Katz3
1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
Insights
Acute otitis media (AOM) affects most children and is a common reason for antibiotic prescriptions. New tools and interventions are emerging to improve AOM diagnosis and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common childhood illness, frequently leading to antibiotic prescriptions.
- The epidemiology of AOM has evolved due to widespread pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use, impacting management strategies.
Conclusions:
- Improved diagnostic accuracy and judicious antibiotic use are crucial for effective AOM management.
- Scaling new tools and interventions is essential for advancing pediatric care in AOM.
Introduction:
Acute otitis media (AOM) affects most (80%) children by 5 years of age and is the most common reason children are prescribed antibiotics. The epidemiology of AOM has changed considerably since the widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, which has broad-reaching implications for management.
Areas Covered:
In this narrative review, we cover the epidemiology of AOM, best practices for diagnosis and management, new diagnostic technology, effective stewardship interventions, and future directions of the field. Literature review was performed using PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov.
Expert Opinion:
Inaccurate diagnoses, unnecessary antibiotic use, and increasing antimicrobial resistance remain major challenges in AOM management. Fortunately, effective tools and interventions to improve diagnostic accuracy, de-implement unnecessary antibiotic use, and individualize care are on the horizon. Successful scaling of these tools and interventions will be critical to improving overall care for children.
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