Management of acute otitis media - Defining the role of cefuroxime axetil

Sources: Medical literature published in any language since 1966 on cefurox ime axetil, identified using Medline supplemented by AdisBase (a proprietar y database of Adis International, Auckland, New Zealand). Additional refere nces were identified from the reference lists of published articles. Biblio graphical information, including contributory unpublished data, was also re quested from the company developing the drug. Search strategy: AdisBase search terms were 'otitis-media' and ('guideline' or 'guideline-utilisation' or 'practice-guideline' of 'disease-management- programmes' or 'treatment-algorithms' or 'reviews-on-treatment' or 'drug-ev aluations' or 'epidemiology' or 'cost-of-illness' or 'pathogenesis'), or 'c efuroxime-axetil' and ('review' or 'clinical-study'). Medline search terms were 'otitis media' and ('guidelines' or 'decision-making' or 'health-polic y' or 'managed-care-programmes' or 'epidemiology' or 'outcome-assessment-he alth-care' or 'clinical-protocols' or 'guideline in pt' or 'practice-guidel ine in pt'), or 'cefuroxime-axetil' and 'review in pt'. Searches were last updated 24 November 2000. Selection: Studies in patients with otitis media who received cefuroxime ax etil. Inclusion of studies was based mainly on the methods section of the t rials. When available, large, well controlled trials with appropriate stati stical methodology were preferred. Relevant pharmacodynamic, pharmacokineti c, epidemiological and cost data are also included.