Innovative technologies in diagnosing acute otitis media

Abstract

New guidelines for managing acute otitis media include stricter criteria for properly diagnosing the condition and ensuring an accurate diagnosis before clinicians make treatment decisions. This is key because of the increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens. This article focuses on how clinicians can use ancillary techniques and technologies to improve diagnostic accuracy for acute otitis media. Techniques include proper cerumen removal, visualizing the tympanic membrane with the correct otoscope, pneumatic otoscopy, using a spectral gradient acoustic reflectometer, and tympanometry.