American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) Practice Exam 2025 - Free ABFM Practice Questions and Study Guide

Amoxicillin is recognized as the first-line treatment for acute otitis media in children who have not received antibiotics recently. This is due to its effectiveness against the common organisms responsible for this infection, which include Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic that works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis, leading to cell lysis and death.

When treating acute otitis media, particularly in children, it is crucial to consider the guidelines that recommend amoxicillin as the preferred medication unless there are specific factors, such as a history of allergy or inadequate response to this treatment.

Other options, while useful in certain situations, may not be appropriate as first-line treatments. For example, azithromycin is often reserved for patients with a penicillin allergy or when there is a need to address atypical bacteria, but it is generally not as effective against typical pathogens for otitis media. Cefdinir, which is a cephalosporin, may be utilized in cases of amoxicillin-resistant infections but is not a first-line agent. Clindamycin is reserved for specific circumstances, such as severe infections or in patients with a high likelihood of infection with methicillin-resistant Staphyl