My DD had a lot of discharge with her grommets. I didn't have her on ABs every time. I waited to see if she actually got an infection. Fever, ear ache etc. It did smell when it happened.
Noone told me it was something to worry about. The times I did have it looked at they did swabs to see what was going on & decided from there. Noone said to come back if it happens again.
I didn't even know that was what would happen... I didn't have google at the time