This measure is used to assess the percentage of patients aged 2 years and older with a diagnosis of acute otitis externa (AOE) who were prescribed topical preparations.

Topical preparations should be used to treat acute otitis externa (AOE) as they are active against the most common bacterial pathogens in AOE, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Topical preparations have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of AOE with resolution in about 65-90% of patients.*

*The following clinical recommendation statements are quoted verbatim from the referenced clinical guidelines and represent the evidence base for the measure:

Clinicians should use topical preparations for initial therapy of diffuse, uncomplicated AOE. (Recommendation based on randomized controlled trials with minor limitations and a preponderance of benefit over harm.) (American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation [AAO-HNSF])

Acute otitis externa (AOE); topical preparations

All patients aged 2 years and older with a diagnosis of acute otitis externa (AOE) (see the related "Denominator Inclusions/Exclusions" field)

Patients who were prescribed topical preparations (see the related "Numerator Inclusions/Exclusions" field)

Unspecified

Unspecified

Age greater than or equal to 2 years

Unspecified

Inclusions
All patients aged 2 years and older with a diagnosis of acute otitis externa (AOE)

Exclusions

• Documentation of medical reason(s) for not prescribing topical preparations (e.g., coexisting acute otitis media, tympanic membrane perforation)
• Documentation of patient reason(s) for not prescribing topical preparations

Inclusions
Patients who were prescribed* topical preparations

*Prescribed: May include prescription given to the patient for topical preparations at one or more visits during the episode of AOE OR patient already receiving topical preparations as documented in the current medication list.

Exclusions
None

Unspecified

Measure #1 - acute otitis externa: topical therapy.

Unspecified

Allan S. Lieberthal, MD, FAAP (Co-Chair); Richard M. Rosenfeld, MD, MPH (Co-Chair); Brian L. Bachelder, MD; Karen Jo Doyle, MD, PhD; Cynthia P. Helstad, PhD, RN; Rahul Khare, MD, FACEP; Steve I. Pelton, MD; Peter S. Roland, MD; Xavier Sevilla, MD; David L. Witsell, MD, MHS

Stacie Jones, MPH, American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation

Junelle Speller, American Academy of Pediatrics; Keri Thiessen, MEd, American Academy of Pediatrics

Angela Franklin, Esq, American College of Emergency Physicians

Karen Kmetik, PhD, American Medical Association; Samantha Tierney, MPH, American Medical Association

Susan Nedza, MD, MBA, FACEP, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services; Sylvia Publ, MBA, RHIA, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Rebecca Kresowik, Consortium Consultant; Timothy F. Kresowik, MD, Consortium Consultant

Conflicts, if any, are disclosed in accordance with the Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement® conflict of interest policy.

2011 Jan 17

This measure was not adapted from another source.

Unspecified

Unspecified

This is the current release of the measure.

The Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement reaffirmed the currency of this measure in November 2011.

The individual measure, "Measure #1 - Acute Otitis Externa: Topical Therapy," is published in "Acute Otitis Externa (AOE)/Otitis Media with Effusion (OME) Physician Performance Measurement Set." This document and technical specifications are available in Portable Document Format (PDF) from the American Medical Association (AMA)-convened Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement® Web site: www.physicianconsortium.org .

For further information, please contact AMA staff by e-mail at cqi@ama-assn.org.

This NQMC summary was completed by ECRI Institute on January 16, 2008. The information was verified by the measure developer on February 18, 2008. This NQMC summary was retrofitted into the new template on May 4, 2011. The information was reaffirmed by the measure developer on November 30, 2011. This NQMC summary was edited by ECRI Institute on April 27, 2012.

© 2007 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.