Managing Otitis Media: Strategies for Pharmacy Teams
Target Audience: Pharmacist
Course Overview
Otitis media, middle ear inflammation, presents unique challenges in clinical management, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its pathophysiology, diagnostic methods, and evidence-based treatment approaches. Otitis media is not a single condition but rather a spectrum of diseases, including acute otitis media (AOM), otitis media with effusion (OME), and chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). As members of interprofessional care teams, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians must understand the clinical presentation and evaluation of patients with otitis media and recommended treatment strategies. This will assist pharmacists in properly evaluating and referring patients with ear pain to their primary care provider. Recommended treatment strategies will be discussed, including mechanisms of action, dosing, and side effects of antibiotic therapies.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
- Describe the pathophysiology of and risk factors for otitis media
- Identify the clinical presentation of otitis media, including common signs and symptoms
- Compare and Contrast treatment strategies for the management of otitis media
Faculty
I. Introduction
II. Etiology
III. Epidemiology
IV. Pathophysiology
V. Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis
A. Signs and Symptoms
B. Physical Exam
C. Diagnostics
D. Differential Diagnosis
VI. Management and Treatment Strategies
VII. The Role of Pharmacy Technicians
VIII. Recommended Resources
IX. Summary
From July 2, 2024 through July 2, 2027, participants must:
- Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
- Study the section entitled "educational activity"
- Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)
Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to CPE Monitor®.
Faculty Planner Disclosure
The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP, and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. Pamela Sardo and L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP, have no conflicts of interest or financial relationships regarding the subject matter. There are no financial relationships or commercial or financial support relevant to this activity to report or disclose by RxCe.com or any of the individuals involved in the development of this activity.
Unlabeled Use Disclosure
The information provided in this course is general in nature and it is solely designed to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant’s professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals, including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, must consult with their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization, for guidelines, protocols, and procedures they are to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures but is for academic purposes only, and this course’s limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses are constantly changing, and any person taking this course understands that such person must make an independent review of medication information prior to any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course, or course material.
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Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.