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Demographics and microbiology of otorrhea through patent tubes failing ototopical and/or oral antibiotic therapy

Fishman I, Sykes KJ, Horvat R, Selvarangan R, Newland J, Wei JL

Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, 2011

202 participants

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Posttympanostomy tube otorrhea (PTTO) results in significant health care cost and decreased satisfaction with care. The authors reviewed PTTO failing initial ototopical and/or oral antibiotic therapy and microbiology/susceptibility data from cultures.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review.

SETTING: A community university satellite ambulatory clinic and the outpatient clinic of a children's hospital.

METHODS: Review of 202 patients with 228 discrete episodes of culture-positive otorrhea from January 2004 to January 2009.

RESULTS: PTTO occurred an average of 13 months after tube placement. Median otorrhea duration was 21 days (mean, 42 days). A mean of 1.6 visits (range, 1-6) to the pediatric otolaryngology office was required for PTTO resolution. Ototopical therapy was reported used in 198 of 228 (87%) episodes of otorrhea prior to pediatric otolaryngology visit. Nearly 50% of patients were prescribed at least 1 or more courses of systemic antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 52% of the organisms cultured, with 57% methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). S aureus resistance to clindamycin was high (49%) and resistance to levofloxacin was low (1.8%). MRSA was 68% clindamycin resistant, much higher than both ours and the children's hospital's clindamycin resistance rate of MRSA cultured from all other body sites.

CONCLUSIONS: PTTO that presents as having failed ototopical and/or oral antibiotics most commonly consists of S aureus, Streptococcus…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case series, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health. Reported size: 202 participants or records.

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