Question

Scenario #1 (Questions 1-5) - Mrs. Jones brings her 7-year-old daughter to the Emergency Room. She states that her daughter has been complaining of pain in her right ear. She demands that her child receive an antibiotic, stating "I should know what's wrong - she gets ear infections all the time."

Question 1 - What are your concerns about giving an antibiotic at this time?

Question 2 and 3 - What test should be done before any medications are given? Why?

Question 4 - After testing is done, amoxicillin is ordered. What type of drug is this?

Question 5 - What teaching should be done with Mrs. Jones before she leaves the Emergency Room with her daughter?

Answer 1

1.The present complaint indicated only pain in the ear. Starting an antibiotic treatment before proper diagnosis and identifying the causative organism is not recommend.

2,3. The otoscopic ear examination and swab for culture and sensitivity should be done before starting any medication. The physical examination with an otoscope helps to exclude trauma, foreign body, etc that can cause pain in the ear. Culture and sensitivity helps to identify the organism causing infection. If the an antibiotic treatment starts before any culture and sensitivity test, it will kill the bacteria and the test results will be affected. The cause need to be identified before starting any medication.

4. Amoxicillin is beta lactam antibiotics used to treat different types of bacterial infections.it us broad spectrum penicillin type antibiotic.

5. The mother should be educated regarding preventive measures that reduces the recurrent ear infection like washing hands of child frequently, to avoid introducing foreign objects to be he ear canal, avoid exposure to polluted air etc.

Health education is also done to complete the treatment regimen as explained and to complete the antibiotic course even if the symptoms are subsided.