Otitis Media-related Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns, Outcomes, and Expenditures in a Pediatric Medicaid Population

Abstract

The findings of this study document a preference for amoxicillin as the initial antibiotic for a new episode of acute otitis media. Although there was a wide variation in the selection of antibiotics to treat otitis, the more expensive antibiotics were not associated with better outcomes. This wide variation has important financial implications because of differences in antibiotic costs. Changes in prescribing patterns among initially uncomplicated children that reduce the use of high-cost antibiotics could reduce expenditures substantially without compromising short-term outcomes.