Panel 7: otitis media:treatment and complications

Objective: We aimed to summarize key articles published between 2011 and 2015 on the treatment of (recurrent) acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, tympanostomy tube otorrhea, chronic suppurative otitis media and complications of otitis media, and their implications for clinical practice. Data Sources: PubMed, Ovid Medline, the Cochrane Library, and Clinical Evidence (BMJ Publishing). Review Methods: All types of articles related to otitis media treatment and complications between June 2011 and March 2015 were identified. A total of 1122 potential related articles were reviewed by the panel members; 118 relevant articles were ultimately included in this summary. Conclusions: Recent literature and guidelines emphasize accurate diagnosis of acute otitis media and optimal management of ear pain. Watchful waiting is optional in mild to moderate acute otitis media; antibiotics do shorten symptoms and duration of middle ear effusion. The additive benefit of adenoidectomy to tympanostomy tubes in recurrent acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion is controversial and age dependent. Topical antibiotic is the treatment of choice in acute tube otorrhea. Symptomatic hearing loss due to persistent otitis media with effusion is best treated with tympanostomy tubes. Novel molecular and biomaterial treatments as adjuvants to surgical closure of eardrum perforations seem promising. There is insufficient evidence to support the use of complementary and alternative treatments. Implications for Practice: Emphasis on accurate diagnosis of otitis media, in its various forms, is important to reduce overdiagnosis, overtreatment, and antibiotic resistance. Children at risk for otitis media and its complications deserve special attention

Severe acute otitis media and mastoiditis caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus

Objective To describe the characteristics, diagnostics, treatment, and outcome of severe acute otitis media (AOM) and acute mastoiditis (AM) caused by group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS). Study design A retrospective cohort study. Methods The yearly incidence of inpatient care-needing GAS AOM/AM patients in our hospital catchment area between 2002 and 2018 was investigated. A detailed analysis was performed for cases treated during the last GAS epidemic in 2017-2018. Anamnesis, signs and symptoms, pure-tone audiometry results, treatment, complications, and outcome were collected from medical charts. Patients responded to an otology-specific health-related quality of life survey (EOS-16) 1.5 to 3 years after their treatment. Results The number of GAS infections peaks at approximately 7-year intervals. During 2017 and 2018, altogether 37 patients (29 adults and 8 children) were hospitalized due to GAS AOM/AM. AM was diagnosed in 14 (38%) patients. The disease progression was typically very rapid. At presentation, all patients had severe ear pain, 68% tympanic membrane perforation and discharge, 43% fever, and 43% vertigo. In pure-tone audiometry, there was usually a marked mixed hearing loss at presentation. There was a significant recovery in both air and bone conduction thresholds; the pure tone average improvement from presentation was 32.3 +/- 14.8 dB. Rapid strep tests (RST) proved to be more sensitive than bacterial culture in identifying GAS as a cause of AOM/AM. Conclusion GAS AOM/AM has a rapid onset. Hearing loss usually includes a sensorineural component, which is usually reversible with adequate treatment. RST seems to be useful in detecting GAS from middle ear discharge. Level of Evidence 4.Peer reviewe

MR Imaging Features of Acute Mastoiditis and Their Clinical Relevance

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MR imaging is often used for detecting intracranial complications of acute mastoiditis, whereas the intratemporal appearance of mastoiditis has been overlooked. The aim of this study was to assess the imaging features caused by acute mastoiditis in MR imaging and their clinical relevance

Geography and the Future of Stock Exchanges: Between Real and Virtual Space

This paper aims to contribute to the debate on the future of stock exchanges and financial centres by focusing on two questions. First, whether, how, why, and which stock exchange activities are prone to concentration in financial centres? Second, are they prone to concentration in national or international financial centres? Through a detail-rich analysis of stock exchange activities, including trading system, as well as relationships with members, issuers, and investors, the paper suggests a framework for the geography of stock exchange activities based on two dimensions-proneness to concentration in a financial centre and proneness to international consolidation. With this framework, predictions are made about the future geography of stock exchange activities led by the argument that while significant geographical reconfigurations are likely to unfold, driven primarily by the development of international networks of stock market institutions, stock exchanges, and financial centres will remain crucially important for each other. Copyright 2007 Blackwell Publishing.