Information leaflet and antibiotic prescribing strategies for acute lower respiratory tract infection: a randomized
Paul Little1, Kate Rumsby, Joanne Kelly
1Primary Medical Care Group, University of Southampton, Highfield, England. p.little@soton.ac.uk
Context:
Acute lower respiratory tract infection is the most common condition treated in primary care. Many physicians still prescribe antibiotics; however, systematic reviews of the use of antibiotics are small and have diverse conclusions.
Objective:
To estimate the effectiveness of 3 prescribing strategies and an information leaflet for acute lower respiratory tract infection.
Design, Setting, And Patients:
A randomized controlled trial conducted from August 18, 1998, to July 30, 2003, of 807 patients presenting in a primary care setting with acute uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infection. Patients were assigned to 1 of 6 groups by a factorial design: leaflet or no leaflet and 1 of 3 antibiotic groups (immediate antibiotics, no offer of antibiotics, and delayed antibiotics).
Intervention:
Three strategies, immediate antibiotics (n = 262), a delayed antibiotic prescription (n = 272), and no offer of antibiotics (n = 273), were prescribed. Approximately half of each group received an information leaflet (129 for immediate antibiotics, 136 for delayed antibiotic prescription, and 140 for no antibiotics).
Main Outcome Measures:
Symptom duration and severity.
Results:
A total of 562 patients (70%) returned complete diaries and 78 (10%) provided information about both symptom duration and severity. Cough rated at least "a slight problem" lasted a mean of 11.7 days (25% of patients had a cough lasting > or =17 days). An information leaflet had no effect on the main outcomes. Compared with no offer of antibiotics, other strategies did not alter cough duration (delayed, 0.75 days; 95% confidence intervals [CI], -0.37 to 1.88; immediate, 0.11 days; 95% CI, -1.01 to 1.24) or other primary outcomes. Compared with the immediate antibiotic group, slightly fewer patients in the delayed and control groups used antibiotics (96%, 20%, and 16%, respectively; P<.001), fewer patients were "very satisfied" (86%, 77%, and 72%, respectively; P = .005), and fewer patients believed in the effectiveness of antibiotics (75%, 40%, and 47%, respectively; P<.001). There were lower reattendances within a month with antibiotics (mean attendances for no antibiotics, 0.19; delayed, 0.12; and immediate, 0.11; P = .04) and higher attendance with a leaflet (mean attendances for no leaflet, 0.11; and leaflet, 0.17; P = .02).
Conclusion:
No offer or a delayed offer of antibiotics for acute uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infection is acceptable, associated with little difference in symptom resolution, and is likely to considerably reduce antibiotic use and beliefs in the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Insights
For acute lower respiratory tract infections, delaying or not offering antibiotics is effective and reduces antibiotic use. This approach is acceptable to patients and does not significantly prolong symptom duration.
Area of Science:
- Primary Care Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Trials
Background:
- Acute lower respiratory tract infection is a common primary care diagnosis.
- Antibiotic prescribing for these infections is frequent, but evidence for effectiveness is mixed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of three antibiotic prescribing strategies and an information leaflet for acute lower respiratory tract infection.
- To compare immediate antibiotics, delayed antibiotics, and no antibiotics, with or without an information leaflet.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 807 patients with acute uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infection.
- Patients were assigned to groups receiving immediate, delayed, or no antibiotics, with or without an information leaflet.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in symptom duration or severity was found between antibiotic prescribing strategies.
- Delayed or no antibiotic strategies significantly reduced antibiotic use and patient beliefs in antibiotic effectiveness.
- An information leaflet did not impact main outcomes but was associated with higher reattendance rates.
Conclusions:
- Withholding or delaying antibiotics for acute lower respiratory tract infection is a viable strategy.
- This approach reduces antibiotic consumption and reliance on antibiotics without compromising symptom resolution.
- Patient acceptance and satisfaction are comparable across strategies, with reduced antibiotic expectations in non-prescribing groups.
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