No abstract

In order to ensure the most appropriate use of antibiotics, clinicians should consider performing tympanocentesis or myringotomy, with subsequent submission of the middle ear fluid for susceptibility testing. Furthermore, these results suggest that, as well as the selection of antibiotics, the dosage and period of dosing should also be considered in the management of AOM. In addition, other factors, in particular horizontal transmission from other infants in day care or nursery school, may affect the rapid spread of such drug-resistant bacteria.

Clinically important issues might be addressed more comprehensively by analyzing microbiological data assembled from several institutions instead of from a single one. Microbiology laboratory databases collected from six collaborative hospitals (A–F) between 2003 and 2013 were converted into WHONET files and analyzed. Three important areas of investigation are presented in this article including early warning of the emergence of resistant bacteria, evaluation of a new susceptibility testing method, and establishment of strategies for identifying patients harboring resistant organisms. Combined databases from microbiology laboratories of a collaborative hospital network might help in developing integrated responses to prevent infection, decrease transmission, and ensure that appropriate antibiotics are selected for patients with infectious diseases.