Project:
Professor Nigel Stocks
Head of Discipline of General Practice, University of Adelaide

Funding:
National Health and Medical Research Council Primary Health Care Project Grant

Patients with acute bronchitis are managed in more than two million GP consultations in Australia each year, often with a prescription for antibiotics.

With evidence that the benefits of antibiotics use in the treatment of acute cough is marginal and may be offset by side effects, this collaborative research venture designed a clinical study to answer the fundamental question: how effective is the use of antibiotics in the treatment of acute bronchitis?

The researchers found that 61% of GPs prescribed antibiotics when a patient presented with an episode of acute cough. However, the duration of patient cough and illness were not significantly improved by the use of antibiotics - an episode usually lasted just over two weeks, with or without antibiotics.

The study also found that patients with ‘complicated’ acute bronchitis - those with chest signs or who were older and sicker - coughed on average two days longer than other patients. An ongoing study by the researchers into these cases may provide evidence to support antibiotic prescribing for this sub-set of patients.

These new findings have a significance similar to the evidence that fuelled major public health campaigns about antibiotic overuse in the management of the common cold. Coupled with the upcoming results on more ‘complicated’ patients, this fundamental research will help GPs and patients have realistic expectations about episodes of acute bronchitis and the appropriate use of medication.

View the project abstract on ROAR