Abstract
Background: Antibiotics have been overused for acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) and the recent guidelines have emphasized limiting their use.
Objective: To clarify the exact rate of antibiotic use and patient outcomes and satisfaction, under strict adherence to the guideline proposed by the American College of Physicians.
Design: Prospective cohort observational study.
Setting: Primary care clinics in Japan.
Patients: 783 patients diagnosed with ARTIs from October 2004 to April 2005, aged 15-64 and without any underlying disease.
Measurements: Scores of symptoms and patient satisfaction at the 5th, 8th and 15th day of their initial visit, when treatment had been initiated according to that strategy.
Results: In 691 non-influenza patients, comprising 554 (80%) cases of nonspecific upper respiratory tract infection (A), 11 (2%) of acute rhinosinusitis (B), 90 (13%) of acute pharyngitis (C) and 36 (5%) of acute bronchitis (D); the rates of antibiotic use were 5% [0.2%; (A), 9%; (B), 36%; (C), 3%; (D)] initially and 2% [2%; (A), 0%; (B), 1%; (C), 3%; (D)] subsequently. For the remaining 92 influenza patients, no antibiotics were prescribed, though oseltamivir was prescribed in 89 (97%). Within 7 days, more than 90% of all patients felt improved and expressed their satisfaction with the treatment. Furthermore, no patients needed emergency room visits or hospital admission.
Limitations: Only patients who gave informed consent were enrolled.
Conclusions: Adhering to the guideline, antibiotic use could be limited to only 5-7% of non-influenza ARTIs-mainly acute pharyngitis-without any problems and with a high degree of patient satisfaction.
