At baseline, samples of middle ear fluid were obtained by tympanocentesis for culture and susceptibility testing. Patients then received 30 mg/kg azithromycin as a single oral dose.

We excluded children who were asymptomatic or who had tympanostomy tubes in place, otorrhea, or a TM perforation, as well as children about to undergo diagnostic tympanocentesis.

While tympanocentesis represents the diagnostic gold standard, its invasive nature precludes widespread implementation for screening purposes (7). Among non-invasive alternatives, acoustic immittance ...