Does Tympanometry Predict Antibiotic Usage in Acute Otitis Media?

Due to recent efforts to decrease antibiotic overuse, and reports of high rates of spontaneous resolution for clinically diagnosed Acute Otitis Media, most physicians now wait 48-72 hours before starting antibiotics for common ear infections. The investigators are interested to see if those patients with documented middle ear effusions, as determined by tympanometry, have higher rates of eventual antibiotic usage than those with normal tympanometry results. If there is a significant disparity between those with a positive tympanogram and those without the investigators may be able to identify a group that will benefit from antibiotics and a group that would not need treatment.鉴于当前为减少抗生素过度使用所开展的相关工作，以及临床确诊急性中耳炎（Acute Otitis Media）患者高比例自发缓解的研究报道，目前多数医师在为普通耳部感染患者开具抗生素前，会先等待48至72小时。本研究的研究者旨在探究，经鼓室压图检查（tympanometry）确诊存在中耳积液的患者，最终使用抗生素的比例是否高于鼓室压图结果正常的患者。若鼓室压图（tympanogram）阳性患者与阴性患者之间存在显著差异，则研究者可据此区分出两类人群：一类可从抗生素治疗中获益，另一类则无需接受治疗。