Abstract:
AIM: To determine the effect of antibiotic treatment versus placebo in patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effect of antibiotics versus placebo in randomised controlled trials to initially treat acute upper respiratory tract infections. RESULTS: Eight studies of children from age 6 months and adults up to the age of 49 years were found. The main outcome measures were general improvement and adverse effects. No benefit was demonstrated in terms of overall improvement from the use of antibiotics compared to placebo for patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections RR=0.89 (95%CI 0.77-1.04). There was also a significant increase in adverse effects (mainly gastrointestinal) using a random effects model with a relative risk RR=2.71 (95%CI 1.08-6.83). CONCLUSIONS: Initial use of antibiotics do not benefit patients with acute upper respiratory tract infections and are associated with an increase in adverse effects.
