The treatment of otitis media (middle ear infections) may become a lot easier. A presentation at the recent annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America demonstrated that a single dose of the antibiotic Zithromax is just as effective in treating otitis media as the traditional 10 day course with Augmentin.

“It has the potential for creating a novel treatment alternative for otitis media,” said Stephen Eppes, M.D., a pediatric disease specialist at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. He continued “The ramifications for compliance are enormous.”

Two hundred sixty children, 6 months to 12 years old, were studied. Half received a single does of Zithromax followed by 10 days of placebo. The other half were treated with the standard dose of Augmentin for 10 days.

Twelve to 16 days after completing the treatment course, 86% of the children treated with Zithromax and 88% of those given the Augmentin were considered a treatment success. When re-examined 28 to 32 days after diagnosis, 75% of the children in both groups were considered cured.

The children in the study didn’t have recurrent episodes of otitis media. The age of the child didn’t affect the success of the treatment with Zithromax.

Side effect incidence was fairly similar in both groups 17% of the Zithromax group and 23% of those given Augmentin.

This dosing regimen for Zithromax isn’t yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration. However, the data has been submitted to the FDA and they are considering it.

Family Practice News, 11/15/00, pp. 1-2.