Topical or oral antibiotics in childhood acute otitis media and ear discharge: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Current guidance suggests oral antibiotics can be considered for children with acute otitis media (AOM) and ear discharge, but there is an absence of evidence regarding the relative effectiveness of antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops.

Aim

To establish whether antibiotic-corticosteroid eardrops are non-inferior to oral antibiotics in children with AOM and ear discharge.

Design and setting

Open randomized controlled non-inferiority trial set in Dutch primary care.

Methods

Children were randomized to hydrocortisone-bacitracin-colistin eardrops (five drops, three times per day in the discharging ear(s)) or amoxicillin suspension (50 mg per kilogram of body weight per day, divided over three doses administered orally) for 7 days. The primary outcome was t

SUBMITTER: Hullegie S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11461153 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature