Antibiotics for acute asthma

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Updated: Oct 3, 2026

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii
09:17

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii

Published on: January 2, 2017

V Graham1, T Lasserson, B H Rowe

  • 151, Clancarty Road, London, UK, SW6 3AH.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|November 1, 2001
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The efficacy of antibiotics for acute asthma is unclear due to limited research. More studies are needed to guide treatment recommendations for acute asthma exacerbations.

Area of Science:

  • Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antibiotics are frequently prescribed for acute asthma exacerbations, often triggered by viral upper respiratory infections (URTIs).
  • The efficacy of antibiotics in treating acute asthma remains debated due to a lack of robust evidence.
  • This review examines the available evidence on antibiotic use in acute asthma management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in patients with acute asthma.

Main Methods:

  • A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
  • Studies included were RCTs or quasi-RCTs involving patients treated for acute asthma with antibiotics or placebo.
  • Two independent reviewers assessed study relevance, inclusion, and quality, and performed data extraction.

Main Results:

  • Only two RCTs, involving 97 patients and reporting 115 exacerbations, met the inclusion criteria.
  • The included trials primarily reported the number of exacerbations rather than patient re-admission numbers.
  • Data from these limited trials make a definitive assessment challenging.

Conclusions:

  • Current literature provides insufficient evidence to definitively establish the role of antibiotics in treating acute asthma.
  • Further research with larger patient cohorts is necessary to inform evidence-based recommendations for antibiotic use in acute asthma.
  • Treatment guidelines for acute asthma will likely remain consensus-based until more comprehensive studies are available.

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