בשל "הגנת זכויות יוצרים" מובא להלן קישור לתקציר המאמר. לקריאתו בטקסט מלא, אנא פנה/י לספרייה הרפואית הזמינה לך. 

Acute otitis media (AOM) is a common cause for antibiotic prescription. Most guidelines endorse abstaining from immediate antibiotic treatment (‘watchful waiting’, WW) in mild–moderate episodes.

We studied adherence rates to the latest AOM guidelines (2013), in terms of antibiotic type and prescription options.

In this population-based study, AOM episodes were identified in Clalit Health Services-insured children aged 0–10 years between 2011 and 2018, using a data-sharing platform.

After identifying the index, prescription and issuing dates for antibiotics for each AOM episode, treatment was categorized as immediate (≤2 days after diagnosis) or WW (antibiotic not prescribed/issued; prescribed ≤2 days after diagnosis but issued on Days 2–7; or prescribed/issued on Days 2–7).

Guideline adherence was measured according to age.