How is AOMT treated?

Topical antibiotics get the medicine right where it needs to go

In some ways, treating acute otitis media in children with tympanostomy tubes (AOMT), a type of middle ear infection, is easier than treating an ear infection in a child without them. That’s because the doctor can prescribe a topical antibiotic in the form of an ear drop, rather than an antibiotic that needs to be taken by mouth.1 A topical treatment does 3 things1:

  1. The medicine goes directly to the infected area

  2. It treats the infection while minimizing the risk of antibiotic resistance

  3. A topical treatment has fewer side effects than an oral treatment

Combination or antibiotic alone?

Most doctors prescribe a topical treatment that is a combination of antibiotic and corticosteroid. That’s because most AOMT has inflammation as well as bacterial infection. The corticosteroid reduces the inflammation, redness, and swelling, and the antibiotic takes care of the bacteria. Clinical studies have shown that the topical combination clears otorrhea as fast or faster than a topical antibiotic alone. Additionally, the combination treatment eradicated the bacteria that caused the infection more effectively than the antibiotic alone.2

▼ IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not use OTOVEL if your child:

  • Is allergic to quinolones including ciprofloxacin, corticosteroids including fluocinolone acetonide, or any of the ingredients in OTOVEL.

  • Has an outer ear canal infection caused by certain viruses including chicken pox (varicella) and the herpes simplex virus, or has a fungal ear infection.

INDICATIONS

OTOVEL® (ciprofloxacin and fluocinolone acetonide) is used in children 6 months of age and older, who have a tiny cylinder tube in their eardrum known as a tympanostomy tube to prevent excess fluid in the middle ear. Otovel is used to treat a type of middle ear infection called acute otitis media with tympanostomy tubes (AOMT) caused by certain bacteria.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Do not use OTOVEL if your child:

  • Is allergic to quinolones including ciprofloxacin, corticosteroids including fluocinolone acetonide, or any of the ingredients in OTOVEL.

  • Has an outer ear canal infection caused by certain viruses including chicken pox (varicella) and the herpes simplex virus, or has a fungal ear infection.

Before using OTOVEL, tell your healthcare provider about all of your child’s medical conditions, including if they:

  • Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, although OTOVEL is not expected to harm the baby.

  • Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed, although OTOVEL is not expected to pass into the breast milk to harm the baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines your child takes, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Use OTOVEL exactly as your healthcare provider tells you. OTOVEL is for use in the ear only. Do not inject OTOVEL or use OTOVEL in the eye. If symptoms do not improve after 7 days of treatment with OTOVEL, contact your healthcare provider. Do not use OTOVEL for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give OTOVEL to other people, even if they have the same symptoms. It may harm them.

Call your healthcare provider right away if:

  • Fluid continues to drain from the ear after finishing treatment with OTOVEL.

  • Fluid drains from the ear 2 or more times within 6 months after treatment has stopped.

OTOVEL may cause serious side effects, including allergic reactions. Stop using OTOVEL and contact your healthcare provider if any of the following signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction occur: hives, swelling of your face, lips, mouth, or tongue, rash, itching, trouble breathing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, or pounding in your chest.

The most common side effects of OTOVEL include fluid draining from the ear, ear infection, ear itching, extra tissue that grows on a part of your body that has been injured, swelling of the outer part of the ear, ear pain, or balance problems.

Tell your healthcare provider of any side effects that are bothersome or that do not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of OTOVEL. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist, or consult the full Prescribing Information.

References: 1. Dohar JE. Tympanostomy tubes: not the magic bullet for acute otitis media. http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/730700. Published October 21, 2010. Accessed March 23, 2016. 2. Schmelzle J, Birtwhistle RV, Tan A. Acute otitis media in children with tympanostomy tubes.Can Fam Physician. 2008;54(8):1123-1127.