Study: Antibiotics ineffective in treating persistent coughs

(Digital Journal) – A new study into the efficacy of antibiotics in treating  persistent coughs concludes they provide little benefit, while prescribing  antibiotics can have a deleterious effect on health.

The study, based on just over 2,000 patients, was led by  Professor Paul Little from the University of Southampton. Previous research had  produced inconclusive results on the effects of antibiotics on persistent mild  coughs. The new study proves more conclusive.

The BBC  reported Prof. Little said:

“Using the antibiotic amoxicillin to treat respiratory infections in  patients not suspected of having pneumonia is not likely to help and could be  harmful.

Overuse of antibiotics, dominated by  primary care prescribing, particularly when they are ineffective, can lead to  the development of resistance and have side effects like diarrhoea, rash and  vomiting.

Our results show that people get better  on their own. But given that a small number of patients will benefit from  antibiotics the challenge remains to identify these individuals.”

The study, published in the Lancet,  concludes: “When pneumonia is not suspected clinically, amoxicillin provides  little benefit for acute lower-respiratory-tract infection in primary care both  overall and in patients aged 60 years or more, and causes slight harms.”

The National  Health Service is seeking to raise antibiotic awareness. It warns that the  unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics is increasing the number of infections  with antibiotic resistant bacteria.