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Comment
. 2014 Dec;312(24):2678-9.
doi: 10.1001/jama.2014.12839.

Antibiotics for acute bronchitis

Susan M Smith  1 , John Smucny  2 , Tom Fahey  1
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Comment

Antibiotics for acute bronchitis

Susan M Smith et al. JAMA. 2014 Dec.

Erratum in

  • Incorrect data in text and table.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] JAMA. 2015 Apr 14;313(14):1476. doi: 10.1001/jama.2015.1816. JAMA. 2015. PMID: 25871682 No abstract available.

Abstract

Clinical question: Are antibiotics associated with improved outcomes in patients with acute bronchitis?

Bottom line: Prescribing antibiotics for acute bronchitis was associated with reduced overall and nighttime cough and with an approximately half-day reduction in duration of cough, in days feeling ill, and in days with impaired activities. However, at follow-up, there were no significant differences in patients receiving antibiotics compared with those receiving placebo in overall clinical improvements or limitations in work or other activities. There was a significant increase in adverse effects in the antibiotic group, particularly gastrointestinal symptoms.

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