A guest post by Anand Swaminathan (@EMSwami) of EM Lyceum and Essentials of EM fame.
Over the last decade, researchers have sought to determine the usefulness, or lack there of, for systemic antibiotics in a number of infectious etiologies previously thought to require antibiotics for resolution. This includes strep throat, sinusitis, bronchitis and, more recently, diverticulitis. Acute otitis media (AOM) has long been a target for such studies and recently, the guidelines have changed. The American Academy of Pediatrics now endorses a “wait and see” approach for many children with AOM while also recommending a more stringent definition of the disease.
Over the last decade, researchers have sought to determine the usefulness, or lack there of, for systemic antibiotics in a number of infectious etiologies previously thought to require antibiotics for resolution. This includes strep throat, sinusitis, bronchitis and, more recently, diverticulitis. Acute otitis media (AOM) has long been a target for such studies and recently, the guidelines have changed. The American Academy of Pediatrics now endorses a “wait and see” approach for many children with AOM while also recommending a more stringent definition of the disease.
What about for patients with tympanostomy tubes who present with signs of AOM? These patients typically present with otorrhea (pus from the tympanostomy tube). Is the presence of drainage adequate to treat or should these patients be placed on oral or topical antibiotics? Small trials have shown good efficacy of topical antibiotics but Pediatricians and Emergency Physicians continue to prescribe oral antibiotics in the face of inadequate evidence.
The researchers here attempt to answer this question. They performed a fairly large study of 230 children who were randomized to either observation, oral antibiotics or topical antibiotic-glucocortocoid drops in an open-label fashion. The primary endpoint was resolution of otorrhea at 2 weeks. The results are surprising. Resolution was seen in 95% in the group given drops, 56% in the oral antibiotic group and 45% in the observation group. These numbers yield a miniscule NNT = 3 for resolution of otorrhea with topical antibiotics-glucocortocoids vs. oral antibiotics.
A couple of notes are important. All of the patients had otorrhea for up to 7 days prior to entering the study and the presence of a fever excluded them from the study. Additionally, tubes couldn’t be recently placed (< 2 weeks) there couldn’t be recent antibiotic use (< 2 weeks) or otorrhea (< 4 weeks).
As evidence mounts to the harms of inappropriate and unnecessary systemic antibiotic use, it’s important to tailor therapy based on the available literature. Many patients with tympanostomy tubes that develop otorrhea will resolve with simple observation. However, treatment with topical antibiotic-glucocortocoid drops should be the first line treatment as they are superior to oral antibiotics with fewer side effects.
“A trial of treatment for acute otorrhea in children with tympanostomy tubes.”