Evidence Based Nursing. Watchful Waiting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Evidence Based Nursing. Watchful Waiting - Essay Example It is a solid guideline developed specifically for physicians when treating cases and complications emanating from AOM. The adduced evidence in the article is quite relevant to nursing practice owing to the many sources of data that have been used to develop it. In addition, the guidelines were compiled by specialists from different medical fields that are allied to AOM such as infectious diseases and microbiology. Although the steps outlined in the source are many, they are quite simple to follow for any medical practitioner. It completely discourages the automatic prescription of antibiotics for AOM cases. Block, S. L. (1997). Causative Pathogens, Antibiotic Resistance and Therapeutic Considerations in Acute Otitis Media. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 16, 449–456. This article can be classified as a filtered as well as summary of evidence which came about through a symposium that discussed the challenges of antibiotic resistance. In the recent past, there has been an unprecedented increase of antimicrobial resistance to antibiotics which has affects the treatment of AOM. This is because antibiotics have been viewed as the choice of treatment and as such, their prescription has been abused. The evidence summary in the article summarizes way of handling antibiotic resistance and therefore makes it appropriate for nursing practice. Underlying causative microbes of AOM are different and it follows then that before prescription of antibiotics the causative pathogens must be known. Moreover, research has shown that some antibiotics are only effective in particular pathogens which underscore the need for proper diagnosis of causative pathogens. Kelley, P. E., Friedman, N., Johnson, C. (2007). Ear, nose, and throat. In W. W. Hay, M. J. Levin, J. M. Sondheimer, & R. R. Deterding (Eds.), Current Pediatric Diagnosis And Treatment (18th ed., pp. 459–492). New York: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill. The information contained in this source is on ears, nose and throat infections which in different ways are connected to AOM. As such, it is a filtered article which articulates the different pathogens that cause infections in ears, nose and throat. These three parts (ears, nose and throat) are in close proximity and therefore infection in one part can be easily transmitted to other areas. Moreover, the article is also an evidence based guideline due to the information that it avails on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of infections that are found within those three parts. The information here is detailed, well researched and presented thereby making it appropriate for nursing practice. Much of the information is summarized in a diagram that contains steps to follow when handling cases of AOM. McCracken, G. H. (1998). Treatment of Acute Otitis Media In An Era Of Increasing Microbial Resistance. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 17, 576–579 Just like the previous three articles, this article is both an evidence summary an d a filtered source because it articulates the way forward when handling AOM cases. It synthesizes many peer reviewed articles and states that there is no single or clear way of treating cases of AOM. This is because the causative pathogens are different with varying levels of virulence and sometimes antibiotics may be used in combination. It follows then that there is no standard way of handling AOM cases due to factors such as efficacy of antibiotics, causative pathogens and their virulence. The appropriateness of this article to nursing practice is found in its excellent articulation and synthesis of