Delayed antibiotic prescription did not delay recovery in children with respiratory tract infections

Study design: Randomised clinical trial. Allocation: Centrally allocated via an online platform. Stratified by pathology and in blocks. Setting: 39 primary care centres in Spain. Patients: 436 children aged 2–14 years who presented to primary care with respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Intervention: Patients diagnosed with an acute RTI were given either immediate (IAP), none (NAP) or delayed (DAP) antibiotic prescriptions. Antibiotic type was decided on by the prescribing doctor. A structured approach was used to deliver parent/patient education on the natural history of the disease and those given delayed prescriptions were given clear instructions on when to consider using the antibiotics. Primary outcome: Symptom duration and severity. Secondary outcomes: Antibiotics use, parental satisfaction, parental beliefs, additional primary care visits and complications. Follow-up: Phone call follow-up was done by the coordinating centre. Main results: There was no significant difference in duration of severe symptoms when comparing immediate, delayed or no...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - Education and Practice - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Key publications in paediatrics: Picket Source Type: research