Medication Summary

A consensus statement published in August 2000 defined an appropriate logarithm for the medical treatment of acute otitis media (AOM) and recurrent acute otitis media (RAOM).^[42]Antimicrobials are the only medications that have been shown to increase the rate of clearance of otitis media with effusion (OME) in randomized controlled trials. However, these benefits are temporary at best.

Class Summary

Results of small trials have shown that nasal steroids speed the clearance of otitis media with effusion (OME) and prevent its recurrence. A 2011 meta-analysis confirmed these findings.^[24]However, to the author's knowledge, no large randomized trials have been performed to confirm this finding.

Fluticasone (Flonase)

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Fluticasone is a topical corticosteroid spray that has anti-inflammatory effects on the nasal mucosa and, presumably, on the nasopharynx, where the eustachian tube orifice is located.

Class Summary

An otic suspension may be used intraoperatively.

Ciprofloxacin otic (Otiprio)

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Ciprofloxacin is an ototopical fluoroquinolone. This class of antimicrobial has a broad spectrum of activity. Additionally, fluoroquinolones do not cause vestibular or cochlear toxicity, recognized with aminoglycosides. The sustained-exposure ciprofloxacin suspension (Otiprio) is indicated for pediatric patients with bilateral otitis media with effusion undergoing tympanostomy tube placement. It is administered as a single intratympanic dose of 0.1 mL (6 mg) into each affected ear, following suctioning of the middle ear effusion.

Questions

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