Antibacterials of no benefit in acute cough

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Antibacterials of no benefit in acute cough

Antibacterial therapy is 'unlikely to alter the course of illness in most adult patients presenting with acute cough " say Tom Fahey from the University of Bristol, UK, and colleagues. They conducted a systematic review of 9 trials involving patients aged> 12 years who had acute cough.

Analysis demonstrated that there was no significant difference between antibacterial and placebo recipients with regards to the percentage of patients with resolution of cough at days 7-11. Similarly, the percentage of patients with resolution of illness at days 7-11 was not significantly different between antibacterial and placebo recipients.

19% of antibacterial recipients experienced adverse effects.

'No benefit' from treatment Dr Fahey and colleagues conclude that 'most

patients receive no benefit from antibiotic treatment'. They calculated that for every 100 patients with acute cough who received antibacterial therapy, 9 would experience an improvement after 7-11 days, while 7 would experience adverse effects associated with therapy.

Dr Fahey and colleagues note that several other factors must be considered before antibacterials are prescribed in this indication. These include the cost of prescribing an antibacterial, the effect that a liberal prescribing policy might have on antibacterial resistance, and the possibility that patients' expectations about the treatment of subsequent episodes of acute cough may be changed.

Fahey T, Stocks N, Thomas T. Quantitative systematic review of randomised controlled trials comparing antibiotic with placebo for acute cough in adults. British Medical loumal316: 9()6.91O, 21 Mar 1998 ""'"""'0

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