Evidence map›Paper›PMID 10796591›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2000

Short course antibiotics for acute otitis media.

A L Kozyrskyj, G E Hildes-Ripstein, S E Longstaffe, J L Wincott, D S Sitar, T P Klassen, M E Moffatt

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2000. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

13 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 44 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Guideline
  2. Short-course antibiotics for acute otitis media.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2010
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. FMC : Formacion medica continuada en atencion primaria · 2016
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Acute and chronic otitis media.Pediatric clinics of North America · 2009
    Review
  8. Review
  9. Upper respiratory tract infections (including otitis media).Pediatric clinics of North America · 2009
    Review
  10. Acute otitis media.Canadian family physician Medecin de famille canadien · 2007
    Article
  11. Article
  12. Quality of after-hours care.Paediatrics & child health · 2003
    Article
  13. Acute upper airway infections.British medical bulletin · 2002
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

A L KozyrskyjCommunity Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 750 Bannatyne Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3E 0W3. moffatt@bldghsc.1an1.umanitoba.ca
G E Hildes-Ripstein
S E Longstaffe
J L Wincott
D S Sitar
T P Klassen
M E Moffatt
University of Alberta · CAWinnipeg Regional Health Authority · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOtitis media is a common pediatric problem, for which antibiotics are frequently prescribed.

objectivesTo determine the effectiveness of a short course of antibiotics (less than seven days) in comparison to a longer course (seven days or greater) for the treatment of acute otitis media in children. SEARCH STRATEGY: The medical literature was searched for randomized controlled studies of the treatment of ear infections in children with antibiotics published from January 1966 to July 1997. Search last updated March 1998. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies were included if they met the following criteria: subjects one month to 18 years of age, clinical diagnosis of ear infection, no previous antimicrobial therapy and randomization to treatment with less than seven days versus seven days or more of antibiotics. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Data on treatment outcomes were extracted from individual studies, and combined in the form of a summary odds ratio. A summary odds ratio (OR) equivalent to one indicated that the treatment failure rate following less than seven days of antibiotic treatment was similar to the failure rate following seven days or more of antibiotic. MAIN

resultsThe summary OR for treatment outcomes at eight to 19 days in 1,524 children treated with short-acting antibiotics for five days versus eight to 10 days was 1.52, 95% CI: 1.17-1.98, but by 20 to 30 days outcomes between treatment groups (n=2,115) were comparable (OR=1.22, 95% CI:0.98-1.54). The absolute difference in treatment failure (Random effects model RD=2.9%, 95%CI:-0.3% to 6.1%) at 20 to 30 days suggests that at minimum 17 children would need to be treated with the long course of short-acting antibiotics to avoid one treatment failure. Similarity in outcomes was observed for up to three months following therapy (OR=1.16,95% CI=0.9-1.5). Comparable outcomes were shown between treatment with ceftriaxone or azithromycin, and more than seven days of other antibiotics. REVIEWER'S

conclusionsThis review suggests that five days of short-acting antibiotic is effective treatment for uncomplicated ear infections in children.

Indexed as

Acute DiseaseAge FactorsAnti-Bacterial AgentsAzithromycinChildDrug Administration ScheduleHumansOtitis MediaAnti-Bacterial AgentsAzithromycin

Identifiers

PMID10796591
OpenAlexW4241888357

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.