US Study Challenges 7-Day Antibiotic Norm as 120 Trials Back Shorter Courses

3 articles · Updated · health.yahoo.com · Aug 17

More than 120 randomized trials now indicate shorter antibiotic courses for common bacterial infections can be as effective, safer and no more likely to drive resistance than longer treatment.
A new US study says patients have not kept pace with that shift: among 1,475 respondents, 892 preferred 7 days or more for respiratory infections over shorter 3-5 day courses.
Just 17.5% said a clinician had ever told them to stop antibiotics when they felt better, though 58.4% said they would be at least somewhat comfortable hearing that advice from their doctor.
The researchers argue updated guidance needs clearer doctor-patient communication, while stressing patients should follow the duration their prescriber sets because some infections, including tuberculosis and certain staph cases, still require longer courses.
The findings land amid a broader resistance crisis in which drug-resistant bacteria kill more than 1 million people a year, adding urgency to cutting unnecessary antibiotic exposure.