AAP Issues New Guidelines on Treating Ear Infections in Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is updating its guidelines for treating acute otitis media (AOM), the type of ear infection that is one of the most common illnesses in U.S. children. The evidence-based clinical guideline, The Diagnosis and Management of Acute Otitis Media, published in the March 2013 Pediatrics and released online Feb. 25, provides recommendations to physicians managing uncomplicated AOM in children ages 6 months through 12 years.
Compared to the previous guidelines issued in 2004, the new guidelines highlight more stringent criteria to use in making an accurate diagnosis of AOM, which will enable clinicians to prescribe antibiotics most effectively. The guidelines include recommendations for treatment with antibiotics and pain relievers, or observation alone, based on the childs age and severity of symptoms.
Source: AAP
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.
