The efficacy of pulse-dosed antibiotic therapy in the management of persistent otitis media with effusion

Abstract

Consensus has been achieved supporting the efficacy of antimicrobials in the management of acute otitis media with effusion (OME). No such agreement has been reached into medical management of the patient in whom middle ear effusion (MEE) persists beyond the conventional 10- to 14-day treatment cycle. This study is designed to demonstrate the efficacy of antibiotics administered in a single daily dose in the management of persistent otitis media with effusion (POME). Seventy-nine subjects who had MEE in 116 ears after conventional therapy were randomized into medication and placebo groups and followed by the authors on a blinded basis. The results demonstrate the efficacy of pulse-dosed antibiotics in the management of POME. Prevention of relapses during therapy was responsible for the superior outcome for children in the treatment group.