A recent study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine has shed light on the impact of antibiotic use on the severity and duration of cough due to acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) among adults seeking care in primary or urgent care settings.

Led by Dr. Daniel J. Merenstein from Georgetown University Medical Center, the study analyzed data from 718 adult patients presenting with cough and symptoms consistent with LRTI at various U.S. healthcare facilities.

The findings revealed that 29 percent of patients received antibiotics at baseline, with common prescriptions including amoxicillin-clavulanate, azithromycin, doxycycline, and amoxicillin. Interestingly, regardless of whether patients had viral, bacterial, or mixed infections, antibiotic treatment showed no significant impact on the duration or overall severity of cough.

However, patients who received antibiotics were less likely to require a follow-up visit compared to those who did not receive antibiotics. Additionally, antibiotic recipients were more likely to be prescribed systemic corticosteroids and albuterol inhalers.

One notable observation from the study was the discrepancy between patients' expectations and reality regarding the effectiveness of antibiotics. Patients believed that antibiotics would significantly shorten the duration of their illness by almost four days, highlighting the need for antibiotic stewardship efforts to address unrealistic patient expectations.

In summary, this study underscores the limited efficacy of antibiotics in treating cough associated with LRTI in adults, emphasizing the importance of judicious antibiotic use and patient education in primary care and urgent care settings.