Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Otitis media

J O Klein1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Boston University School of Medicine, Massachusetts.

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|November 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Acute otitis media, a common childhood infection, often requires antibiotics. While some cases resolve naturally, identifying those needing treatment is difficult, supporting broad antibacterial use for recovery.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Diagnostic needle aspiration in pediatric practice. With special reference to lungs, middle ear, urinary bladder, and amniotic cavity.

Pediatric clinics of North America·2015
Same author

In vitro Activity of Selected Cephalosporins and Penicillins against Bacteria of Importance in Infections of Infants and Children.

Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine·2010
Same author

Otitis media: a preventable disease? Proceedings of an international symposium organized by the Marcel Mérieux Foundation, Veyrier-du-Lac, France, February 13 to 16, 2000.

The Pediatric infectious disease journal·2001
Same author

Constancy of distribution of serogroups of invasive pneumococcal isolates among children: experience during 4 decades.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2001
Same author

In vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity of topical ofloxacin and other ototopical agents.

The Pediatric infectious disease journal·2001
Same author

The use of topical ofloxacin for otic diseases in infants and children. Summary and conclusions.

The Pediatric infectious disease journal·2001
Same journal

Understanding the Clone-Censor-Weight Method in Observational Studies of Antibiotic Duration.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
Same journal

Treatment of Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy with Third-Party Allogeneic BK Virus T Cells.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
Same journal

Protection Against Recurrent Typhoid Fever Conferred by a Prior Episode: Evidence from a Large Cohort Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
Same journal

Pre-treatment Gut Microbiome Diversity and Function Linked to Cytotoxic and Natural Killer Cell Immune Responses after N-803 Treatment in People with HIV.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
Same journal

Reconsidering ambiguous language in infectious disease consult recommendations.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
Same journal

Antibiotic Treatment Duration for Uncomplicated Monomicrobial Enterococcal Bloodstream Infection: A Multicenter Target Trial Emulation.

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America·2026
See all related articles

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Otolaryngology

Background:

  • Otitis media is a frequent childhood respiratory infection managed with antibiotics.
  • Bacterial pathogens, primarily Streptococcus pneumoniae, nontypable Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis, are found in middle ear fluids of most affected children.
  • Spontaneous bacterial clearance occurs in some cases, particularly for H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the necessity of antibacterial therapy for acute otitis media.
  • To understand the natural resolution patterns of bacterial pathogens in middle ear infections.
  • To inform treatment guidelines for acute otitis media and management of persistent middle ear effusion.

Main Methods:

  • Review of studies on bacterial pathogen isolation from middle ear fluids.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analysis of clinical outcomes in children with acute otitis media treated with antibiotics versus placebo.
  • Examination of the impact of persistent middle ear effusion on speech and cognitive abilities.

    • Main Results:

    • Microbiological data suggest only one-third of acute otitis media cases require antibacterial therapy for clinical resolution.
    • Spontaneous clearance rates vary by pathogen: pneumococci persist, while H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis show significant clearance.
    • Persistent middle ear effusion is common, leading to conductive hearing loss and potential developmental impacts.

    Conclusions:

    • While only a subset of children may require antibiotics, the inability to predict spontaneous resolution supports empirical antibacterial treatment for all acute otitis media episodes.
    • Effective management strategies for persistent middle ear effusion, including surgical interventions like tympanostomy tubes, are crucial but controversial.
    • Prevention through chemoprophylaxis and vaccination holds promise for reducing the incidence and recurrence of otitis media.