Are antibiotics effective for treating acute bronchitis? Evidence Update, Respiratory Tract Infections Series, February 2005
Abstract
Results from 13 randomized controlled trials involving 1914 adults and children with symptoms of cough and productive sputum, or with a physician's diagnosis of acute bronchitis, indicate that antibiotics may have beneficial effects in acute bronchitis; however, some of the benefits are slight and need to be balanced against costs, adverse effects, and negative effects on antibiotic resistance pattern.
This evidence update was adapted from Smucny J, Fahey T, Becker L, Glazier R. Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2004, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD000245.pub2. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub2.
Citation
Respiratory Tract Infections Series Effective Health Care Alliance Programme, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 2pp.
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