"Give Me Five": The Case for 5 Days of Antibiotics as the Default Duration for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-28-2024
Identifier
DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piae034
Abstract
Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) account for most antibiotic prescriptions in pediatrics. Although US guidelines continue to recommend ≥10 days antibiotics for common ARTIs, evidence suggests that 5-day courses can be safe and effective. Academic imprinting seems to play a major role in the continued use of prolonged antibiotic durations. In this report, we discuss the evidence supporting short antibiotic courses for group A streptococcal pharyngitis, acute otitis media, and acute bacterial rhinosinusitis. We discuss the basis for prolonged antibiotic course recommendations and recent literature investigating shorter courses. Prescribers in the United States should overcome academic imprinting and follow international trends to reduce antibiotic durations for common ARTIs, where 5 days is a safe and efficacious course when antibiotics are prescribed.
Journal Title
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc
Volume
13
Issue
6
First Page
328
Last Page
333
MeSH Keywords
Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Respiratory Tract Infections; Acute Disease; Sinusitis; Pharyngitis; Otitis Media; Child; Drug Administration Schedule; Streptococcal Infections; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Rhinitis; United States; Streptococcus pyogenes
Keywords
acute bacterial rhinosinusitis; acute otitis media; acute respiratory tract infection; antimicrobial stewardship; duration of therapy; pharyngitis
Recommended Citation
El Feghaly RE, Jaggi P, Katz SE, Poole NM. "Give Me Five": The Case for 5 Days of Antibiotics as the Default Duration for Acute Respiratory Tract Infections. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2024;13(6):328-333. doi:10.1093/jpids/piae034
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