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Biomedical subjects

C D Bluestone

Publications and source records attributed to C D Bluestone.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

Sulbactam/ampicillin in the treatment of acute epiglottitis in children.

Acute epiglottitis, a life-threatening illness, is characterized by the sudden onset and rapid progression of respiratory obstruction. The etiologic agent is almost exclusively Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). During the past decade as many as 25% of strains of Hib have been shown to produce beta-lactamase and be resistant to ampicillin. Recommendations for treatment, in addition to the immediate intubation of the airway, include the administration of chloramphenicol in combination with ampicillin. The combination of sulbactam and ampicillin was evaluated in an effort to develop a safer, but equally effective, regimen. Thirty-one infants and children (mean age, three years six months) with documented acute epiglottitis received parenteral sulbactam sodium (30 mg/kg per day) in combination with ampicillin (200 mg/kg per day). Of the 31 subjects, 26 (84%) had Hib isolated from the blood; seven (27%) of the 26 strains of Hib isolated were beta-lactamase-positive. Twenty-five cases (96%) of Hib epiglottitis responded rapidly to treatment. The combination of sulbactam and ampicillin appeared to be an effective and safe alternative to chloramphenicol/ampicillin therapy for acute epiglottitis in infants and children.

Acute Disease↗

Duration of effusion after antibiotic treatment for acute otitis media: comparison of cefaclor and amoxicillin.

A double-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted at two sites comparing cefaclor and amoxicillin for the treatment of acute otitis media with effusion in 214 children (293 ears). Each child underwent unilateral or bilateral tympanocentesis and then was randomly assigned to receive a 14-day course of either amoxicillin or cefaclor. The symptomatic clinical response was the same for the two antibiotics, with four children considered "treatment failures" in each antibiotic treatment group. By 14 days after entry into the study 59 of 106 children (55.7%) in the cefaclor group had ears that were effusion-free as compared to 40 of 97 children (41.2%) in the amoxicillin group (P = 0.05). When considering all children with effusion-free ears as well as those "improved" from their original status (those with bilateral middle ear effusions at entry but only unilateral after treatment), 68 of 106 children (64.2%) receiving cefaclor were effusion-free or "improved," compared to 43 of 97 children (44.3%) receiving amoxicillin (P = 0.01). However, by 42 days after entry the percentage of children whose ears were without effusion or "improved" was equal in both treatment groups (68.9% in the cefaclor group and 67.5% in the amoxicillin group). The reasons for the differences observed at 14 days after entry are not readily apparent.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗

Surgical management of otitis media.

In summary there are four surgical procedures commonly used for treatment of otitis media. Myringotomy and aspiration of the middle ear effusion is indicated for acute otitis media: (1) when a child has persistent or recurrent symptoms while on appropriate antimicrobial therapy; (2) if there is severe otalgia initially requiring immediate relief; (3) when a suppurative complication is present, such as facial paralysis; or (4) whenever a diagnostic tympanocentesis (for microbiology) is indicated, such as for the critically ill child, the neonate or a child who is immunologically compromised. In addition the potential benefit from more liberal use of the procedure initially might decrease the persistence and recurrence. Myringotomy without tympanostomy tube insertion is a reasonable treatment option for infants and children with chronic otitis media with effusion that is unresponsive to antimicrobial therapy if the procedure can be performed without the administration of a general anesthetic; however, if not, then a tympanostomy tube should be inserted since the recurrence rate is high. In addition to chronic otitis media with effusion, myringotomy with tympanostomy tube insertion is indicated for: (1) recurrent acute otitis media, especially if unresponsive to prophylactic antimicrobial therapy; (2) eustachian tube dysfunction, in which one or more of the following is present--otalgia, significant and symptomatic hearing loss, vertigo or tinnitus; (3) severe retraction pocket of the tympanic membrane; (4) suppurative complication to maintain adequate drainage; and (5) at the time of repair of a tympanic membrane defect, i.e. tympanoplasty, when the eustachian tube function is poor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acute Disease↗

Sultamicillin (ampicillin-sulbactam) in the treatment of acute otitis media in children.

Sultamicillin, a dimer of ampicillin and a beta-lactamase-inhibiting agent, sulbactam, was given in oral form to 50 infants and children with acute otitis media. Tympanocentesis was performed on entry into the trial. Beta-lactamase-positive Haemophilus influenzae or Branhamella catarrhalis was isolated from 14 of 73 (19.2%) middle ear effusions in 9 children. Relief of symptoms (fever/otalgia) occurred in all children who completed therapy. However, in 8 children (16%), the antimicrobial agent was discontinued due to presumed adverse side effects (primarily gastrointestinal); vomiting which began prior to entry was noted in another subject who was withdrawn. An additional 14 children completed the course of treatment despite having diarrhea. Of the 41 children who completed drug therapy, 11 (26.8%) were effusion-free after 10 days, and 22 of 33 (66.7%) evaluable children were effusion-free after 6 weeks. Sultamicillin is a novel therapeutic approach to beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. In its oral form, however, diarrhea is a troublesome side effect.

Ampicillin↗

Microbiology of chronic suppurative otitis media in children.

The aerobic microorganisms present in 51 middle ears of 36 children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma were evaluated. Specimens were taken directly from the middle ear through a patent perforation or tympanostomy tube and cultured using standard techniques. Twenty-three microbiologic species were identified, with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most prevalent (67% of ears) and the only organism in 31% of ears. The initial treatment of all patients was intravenous administration of an antimicrobial selected on the basis of culture and susceptibility reports; this treatment was successful in all but four children, who subsequently required tympanomastoid surgery. These results indicate that medical therapy, based on the results of culture and susceptibility studies, provides a viable alternative to major mastoid surgery in the management of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma.

Adult↗