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Biomedical subjects

J O Klein

Publications and source records attributed to J O Klein.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Management of otitis media among children in a large health insurance plan.

BACKGROUND: Otitis media is one of the most common office diagnoses among children in the US and the leading reason for the use of antimicrobials in pediatric practice. We undertook this study to characterize medical and surgical management of otitis media. METHODS: Using claims data from a large New England health insurer, we identified all children <10 years of age who had one or more episodes of acute otitis media between July, 1995, and June, 1996, and examined patterns of treatment for this condition. RESULTS: Study subjects (n = 22,004) averaged 2.9 physician office visits for management of otitis media; among children <2 years of age, one-fourth had 6 or more such visits. Amoxicillin was prescribed as initial therapy in more than one-half (56.6%) of all episodes of acute otitis media, followed by cephalosporins (18.3%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (12.3%), macrolides (6.4%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (6.0%). Over multiple episodes, however, use of amoxicillin declined by about 50%. Antimicrobial prophylaxis was received by 7.3% of all study subjects for a mean of 61.3 days; the incidence of breakthrough episodes of acute otitis media during prophylaxis varied according to the antimicrobial used (13.9, 12.3 and 19.5% for amoxicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and sulfisoxazole, respectively). Surgical procedures related to otitis media were performed on 3.8% of all study subjects, including 4.6% of children <2 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: The health care burden of otitis media is large, particularly in the first 2 years of life.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Parents, physicians, and antibiotic use.

BACKGROUND: Emergence of resistant bacterial pathogens has increased concerns about antibiotic prescribing patterns. Parent expectations and pressure may influence these patterns. OBJECTIVE: To understand how parents influence the prescribing patterns of physicians and what strategies physicians believe are important if we are going to reduce inappropriate use of oral antimicrobial agents. DESIGNS AND METHODS: One thousand pediatricians who are members of the American Academy of Pediatrics were asked to complete a semi-structured questionnaire. The physicians were chosen randomly by the American Academy of Pediatrics. RESULTS: Nine hundred fifteen pediatricians were eligible and 610 surveys were analyzable, for a response rate of 67%. The majority of respondents were male (56%), worked in a group practice (51%), saw an average of 114 patients per week and were in practice for 14 years. Forty percent of the pediatricians indicated that 10 or more times in the past month a parent had requested an antibiotic when the physician did not feel it was indicated. Forty-eight percent reported that parents always, most of the time, or often pressure them to prescribe antibiotics when their children are ill but antibiotics are not indicated. In follow-up questions, approximately one-third of physicians reported they occasionally or more frequently comply with these requests. Seventy-eight percent felt that educating parents would be the single most important program for reducing inappropriate oral antibiotic use and 54% indicated that parental pressure, in contrast to concerns about legal liability (12%) or need to be efficient in practice (19%), contributed most to inappropriate use of oral antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatricians acknowledge prescribing antimicrobial agents when they are not indicated. Pediatricians believe educating parents is necessary to promote the judicious use of antimicrobial agents.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

Clinical implications of antibiotic resistance for management of acute otitis media.

Antibiotic resistance to available antimicrobial agents has been constant since the introduction of the sulfonamides in the 1930s. Multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and beta-lactamase-producing Haemophilus influenzae are a concern now because of the importance of these pathogens in infections of the respiratory tract in infants and children. Amoxicillin remains the drug of choice for initial episodes of acute otitis media (AOM) although increase of the dosage schedule to 80 mg/kg/day has been recommended by some investigators. There are 15 additional antimicrobial agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the indication of AOM. All approved drugs are clinically effective but some have been suggested to have priority for patients who fail amoxicillin: amoxicillin-clavulanate; an oral cephalosporin such as cefuroxime axetil; and intramuscular ceftriaxone. Management of the child with severe and recurrent disease should include antibiotic prophylaxis but the increased incidence of resistance requires selective use. Prevention of infection may be achieved by innovative techniques for interference with attachment of bacteria to the nasal mucosa such as administration of oligosaccharides in a nasal spray. The currently available polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines have limited immunogenicity in infants, but the vaccine is useful in children 2 years of age and older who still have recurrent AOM. Children with frequent AOM during the prior respiratory season are candidates also for influenza virus vaccine. If medical management fails to prevent new episodes of AOM in children with severe and recurrent disease, placement of tympanostomy tubes and possible adenoidectomy should be considered.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Role of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae in pediatric respiratory tract infections.

BACKGROUND: Nontypeable strains of Haemophilus influenzae may spread contiguously from the upper respiratory tract and cause sinusitis, otitis media and pneumonia. Unlike H. influenzae type b these strains rarely invade the bloodstream to cause widespread infections. These strains are primary pathogens of acute otitis media, sinusitis and the conjunctivitis-otitis syndrome. In developing countries these strains are also responsible for many cases of pediatric pneumonia. Currently approximately 30% of nontypeable H. influenzae strains are beta-lactamase-positive and can inactivate susceptible penicillins, including penicillins G and V, ampicillin and amoxicillin. Most second generation oral cephalosporins are active against beta-lactamase-producing H. influenzae. Some third generation oral cephalosporins, e.g. cefixime, however, have particularly good efficacy against H. influenzae. Sulfonamides and chloramphenicol are generally effective as well. CONCLUSION: Until a vaccine that provides adequate prophylaxis against nontypeable H. influenzae is developed, clinicians should be guided by knowledge of bacterial susceptibility and microbiologic efficacy in choosing appropriate agents for treating pediatric infections likely to involve this common pathogen.

Child↗
PubMed1997

History of macrolide use in pediatrics.

Erythromycin, the prototypical macrolide, has been widely used since the 1950s in the management of pediatric infections. Erythromycin is the drug of choice for infants and children with Legionnaire's disease, pertussis, diphtheria, lower respiratory tract infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis and enteritis caused by Campylobacter jejuni. It is also indicated for treatment of syphilis; for streptococcal, staphylococcal and pneumococcal infections; genital infections caused by Ureaplasma urealyticum; and for the prevention of rheumatic fever and endocarditis in patients who are allergic to beta-lactam antibiotics. The new macrolides azithromycin and clarithromycin are also active against Borrelia burgdorferi, Helicobacter pylori, Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex, Cryptosporidium spp. and Toxoplasma gondii. Erythromycin is associated with a low risk of serious side effects, although gastric distress occurs in a significant proportion of patients. Drug interactions with theophylline, carbamazepine, warfarin, cyclosporine, terfenadine and digoxin limit erythromycin use. The newer macrolides azithromycin and clarithromycin are more stable, better absorbed and better tolerated than erythromycin. Azithromycin is more active than erythromycin against Haemophilus influenzae. Excellent tissue and intracellular penetration may contribute to their clinical efficacy. In children both azithromycin and clarithromycin are indicated for acute otitis media caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, H. influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis and for pharyngitis/tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes. (As of December, 1996, azithromycin for oral suspension was approved for community-acquired pneumonia in children caused by C. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae.) Claritromycin is also indicated for acute maxillary sinusitis, uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections, pneumonia and disseminated mycobacterial infections. Azithromycin and clarithromycin are associated with a lower incidence of gastrointestinal side effects, a low rate of drug discontinuation caused by side effects and a low potential for interaction with other drugs.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Parental issues in selection of antimicrobial agents for infants and children.

The traditional American family has changed during the past several decades with increases in the number of single-parent households and working mothers. These changes have led to increased stress in the family when children become ill. Infectious diseases are the most common reasons parents seek care for ill children, and parents want effective and convenient treatment regimens so the child can recover quickly and return to day care or school. Issues that affect parental compliance and satisfaction with antimicrobial treatment regimens include efficacy, safety, cost, convenience, and previous experience. Parents are more involved in medical decision making than ever before and often want to be included in the selection of an antibiotic for their child. Physicians should be aware of the many issues impacting on parents' opinions about antibiotic therapy.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1997

Comparison of ceftriaxone and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for acute otitis media. Greater Boston Otitis Media Study Group.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this prospective, randomized, single-blind trial was to assess the clinical efficacy of a single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone compared with 10 days of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) in treating acute otitis media (AOM). METHODS: Children aged 3 months through 3 years diagnosed with AOM (signs of acute illness plus evidence of middle-ear effusion) were randomized to treatment with either a single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone (maximum dose of 50 mg/kg) or 10 days of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (8 mg of TMP and 40 mg of SMZ/kg/day in two divided doses). Children were evaluated at scheduled visits on days 3, 14, and 28, and the parents were telephoned on day 5. Children were assessed as cured, improved, or failed on day 3, and as cured or failed on days 14 and 28. Children ill at other times during the study period were, if possible, seen and assessed by the study team. RESULTS: Of 596 children enrolled during the study period, 484 were evaluable. Characteristics of evaluable subjects did not differ significantly by drug. On day 3, 223/241 children in the ceftriaxone group (92.5%) and 231/243 (95.1%) in the TMP-SMZ group were cured or improved. On day 14, 158/197 (80.2%) in the ceftriaxone group and 174/212 (82.1%) in the TMP-SMZ group were cured. On day 28, 108/136 (79.4%) in the ceftriaxone group and 124/155 (80%) in the TMP-SMZ group were cured. Persistence of middle-ear fluid did not differ between groups at day 14 (55% in the ceftriaxone group vs 47% in the TMP-SMZ group; P = .16) or at day 28 (39% vs 43%; P = .48). Pain at the injection site persisting at day 3 occurred in 8.4% of children receiving ceftriaxone. New diarrhea was more common in the ceftriaxone group (23.6% vs 9.2%; P < .001). CONCLUSION: A single intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone is comparable in clinical efficacy to 10 days of oral TMP-SMZ for treatment of AOM.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗