Reducing how long antibiotics are given for kids with ear infections
Official title: RELAX: Reducing Length of Antibiotics For Children With Ear Infections
Funded at Ihc Health Services, INC. · NIH-11423414 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric-focused study tests short antibiotic courses for acute otitis media to see if they work as well as longer courses with fewer side effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ihc Health Services, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | September 29, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $419,054 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HS029153-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423414 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 2 years and older with acute otitis media seen in participating clinics.
✕Less likely to help
Children with atypical cases or severe AOM requiring longer treatment may not benefit from shorter courses.
What this research studies
If your child has a middle-ear infection and is over 2 years old, this project tests whether a 5–7 day antibiotic plan is just as effective as the traditional 10-day course and aims to understand which simple, low-cost changes help doctors prescribe shorter courses. The study compares two low-cost approaches—one with more clinician feedback and EHR tweaks, and one with fewer interventions—to see which better supports following guidelines. Researchers will look at prescribing patterns, effectiveness, safety, and how easy it is to implement these strategies in real clinics. The goal is to provide clear, practical recommendations that reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure in children. The study is conducted in real-world pediatric care settings to reflect everyday practice in the United States.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in children, lowering adverse effects and resistance risk while maintaining effective treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous pilots showed increased use of short durations with certain interventions, but a definitive, controlled comparison is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Ihc Health Services, INC.
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frost, Holly — Ihc Health Services, INC.
- Study coordinator: Frost, Holly
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.