January 07, 2015
JAMA
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE
- The authors of this JAMA clinical synopsis examine whether antibiotics are associated with improved outcomes in patients with acute bronchitis. While antibiotic use was associated with reduced overall and nighttime cough and slight reductions in duration of cough, feeling ill, and impaired activities, patients taking antibiotics had no significant differences in overall clinical improvements.
- Antibiotic use was associated with significant increases in adverse effects, especially gastrointestinal symptoms.
CLINICAL QUESTION
Are antibiotics associated with improved outcomes in patients with acute bronchitis?
BOTTOM LINE
Prescribing antibiotics for acute bronchitis was associated with reduced overall and nighttime cough and with an approximately half-day reduction in duration of cough, in days feeling ill, and in days with impaired activities. However, at follow-up, there were no significant differences in patients receiving antibiotics compared with those receiving placebo in overall clinical improvements or limitations in work or other activities. There was a significant increase in adverse effects in the antibiotic group, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms.