Delaying Antibiotics Doesn't Worsen Respiratory Infection Symptoms

By Kelly Young

Delayed antibiotic prescription is not associated with increased symptom severity in patients with respiratory tract infections, according to a BMJ study.

Clinicians in the U.K. assessed nearly 900 patients aged 3 years and older presenting with respiratory tract infections. A third were deemed to require immediate antibiotics. The remainder were randomized to one of five strategies: They were asked to recontact the clinic for an antibiotic prescription if needed; received a post-dated prescription; were instructed to wait but allowed to collect the prescription from the front desk; received a prescription but were asked to wait to use it; or did not receive a prescription.

The primary outcome — patient-reported symptom severity on days 2 to 4 — did not differ significantly among the groups, including the group prescribed antibiotics immediately. Antibiotic use was also not significantly different across the randomized groups (26%-39%).