Acute Otitis Media
Antimicrobial prescribing: NHS Lothian
- 60% of cases resolve within 24 hours and no antimicrobials are required.
- If otorrhoea or no improvement after 48 hours of decongestants and analgesics then consider antimicrobials
Antimicrobial Recommendations
Recommended total duration: 5 days
| Antimicrobial recommendation | Amoxicillin 500mg every 8 hours orally |
| Penicillin Allergy | Doxycycline 200mg stat then 100mg daily orally |
NotesSeek advice from ENT if:
- no improvement with first line therapy
- OR in complicated cases (e.g. mastoiditis, facial nerve palsy)
- OR in recurrent cases
Likely organisms: Viruses, S.pneumoniae, H.influenzae, M.catarrhalis