Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Antibiotic use for common cold

  • Chapter
Common Cold

Part of the book series: Birkhäuser Advances in Infectious Diseases ((BAID))

Abstract

Antibiotics do not help patients with an uncomplicated common cold. Antibiotics can have side effects for the individual taking them that range from unpleasant to serious, even lethal. Antibiotic use also contributes to communal harm by encouraging antibiotic resistance. If there can be no benefit, but there can be harm, why is the common cold the commonest reason for doctors to prescribe antibiotics? We note that antibiotics are also overused in other conditions and other medical disciplines, as well as in agriculture and the food industry. The harm caused by antibiotics ranges from mild gastrointestinal disturbance to death. Reasons for overuse of antibiotics to treat the common cold include patient expectations, patient and doctor uncertainty around diagnosing complications of the common cold, and the pressure on the doctor to ‘do something doctor — anything’. Strategies to limit inappropriate antibiotic use are explored, particularly the use of ‘delayed prescriptions’, and evidence is presented that with education of doctors and patients the overuse can be reduced.

‘Do something, anything!’ is a universal cry for help at the onset ... of illness. William Silverman (1917–2004) [1]

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Silverman W (1998) Where’s the Evidence? Debates in Modern Medicine. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arroll B, Kenealy T (2005) Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: Art. No.: CD000247

    Google Scholar 

  3. McIsaac WJ, Kellner JD, Aufricht P, Vanjaka A, Low DE (2004) Empirical validation of guidelines for the management of pharyngitis in children and adults. JAMA 291:1587–1595

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. McIsaac WJ, Goel V, To T, Low DE (2000) The validity of a sore throat score in family practice. CMAJ 163:811–815

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kenealy T (2007) Sore throat. In: F Godlee (ed): Clinical Evidence. BMJ Publishing Group, London, 597–599

    Google Scholar 

  6. Puhakka T, Pitkaranta A, Ruuskanen O (2000) Common cold and its complications. Duodecim 116:39–45

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Smucny J, Fahey T, Becker L et al. (2000) Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews CD000245

    Google Scholar 

  8. Arroll B, Kenealy T (2001) Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. Four reviews and still no answers: our clinical definitions are at fault. BMJ 322:939–940

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Hickner J, Bartlett J, Besser R, Gonzales R, Hoffman JR, Sande MA (2001) Principles of appropriate antibiotic use for acute rhinosinusitis in adults: background. Ann Emerg Med 37:703–710

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Arroll B, Keneally T (2006) Are antibiotics effective for acute purulent rhinitis? Systematic review and meta-analysis of placebo controlled randomised trials. BMJ doi: 10.1136/bmj.38891.681215.AE

    Google Scholar 

  11. Arroll B, Kenealy T (2002) Antibiotics for acute purulent rhinitis. Probably effective but not routinely recommended (editorial). BMJ 325:1312–1313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Baraff LJ, Bass JW, Fleisher GR, Klein JO, McCracken GH Jr, Powell KR, Schriger DL (1993) Practice guideline for the management of infants and children 0 to 36 months of age with fever without source. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Ann Emerg Med 22:1198–1210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Abramson MJ, Crockett AJ, Frith PA, McDonald CF (2006) COPDX: an update of guidelines for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with a review of recent evidence. Med J Aust 184:342–345

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Wang E, Einarson T, Kellner J, Conly J (1999) Antibiotic prescribing for Canadian preschool children: evidence of overprescribing for viral respiratory infections. Clin Infect Dis 29:155–160

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Marwick J, Grol R, Borgiel A (1992) Quality Assurance for Family Doctors. WONCA, Jolimont, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cantrell R, Young A, Martin B (2002) Antibiotic prescribing in ambulatory care settings for adults with colds, upper respiratory tract infections, and bronchitis. Clin Ther 24:170–182

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Carrie A, Zhanel G (1999) Antibacterial use in community practice: Assessing quantity, indications and appropriateness, and relationship to the development of antibacterial resistance. Drugs 57:871–881

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Norris P, Becket G, Ecke D (2005) Demographic variation in the use of antibiotics in a New Zealand town. N Z Med J 118:U1352

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Gonzales R, Barrett PJ, Crane L, Steiner J (1998) Factors associated with antibiotic use for acute bronchitis. J Gen Intern Med 13:541–548

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Steinman M, Gonzales R, Linder J, Landefeld C (2003) Changing use of antibiotics in community-based outpatient practice, 1991–1999. Ann Intern Med 138: 525–533

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Cockburn J, Pit S (1997) Prescribing behaviour in clinical practice: patients’ expectations and doctors’ perceptions of patients’ expectations — a questionnaire study. BMJ 315:520–523

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Bonn D (2003) Consumers need to change attitude to antibiotic use. Lancet Infect Dis 3:678

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Pechere JC (2001) Patients’ interviews and misuse of antibiotics. Clin Infect Dis 33:S170–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Curry M, Sung L, Arroll B, Goodyear-Smith F, Kerse N, Norris P (2006) Public views and use of antibiotics for the common cold before and after an education campaign in New Zealand. N Z Med J 119:U1957

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Cunha B (2001) Antibiotic side effects. Med Clin North Am 85:149–185

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Hart C (1998) Antibiotic resistance: an increasing problem? BMJ 316:1255–1256

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Wysowski DK (2007) Surveillance of prescription drug-related mortality using death certificate data. Drug Safety 30:533–540

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Song X, Bartlett J, Speck K, Naegeli A, KC, Perl T (2008) Rising economic impact of Clostridium difficile-associated disease in adult hospitalized patient population. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 29:823–828

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Gonzales R, Malone D, Maselli J, Sande M (2001) Excessive antibiotic use for acute respiratory infections in the United States. Clin Infect Dis 33:757–762

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Levy S (1997) Antibiotic resistance: origins, evolution, selection and spread. Ciba Found Symp 207:1–14

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Pharmaceutical Management Agency (2003) Annual Review 2003. Pharmaceutical Management Agency (PHARMAC), Wellington

    Google Scholar 

  32. Heffernan H (2002) Annual summaries in bacteriology. Lablink 10:9

    Google Scholar 

  33. Seppala H, Klaukka T, Vuopio-Varkila J, Muotiala A, Helenius H, Lager K, Huovinen P, for The Finnish Study Group for Antimicrobial Resistance (1997) The effect of changes in the consumption of macrolide antibiotics on erythromycin resistance in group A streptococci in Finland. Finnish Study Group for Antimicrobial Resistance. N Engl J Med 337:441–446

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Stephenson J (1996) Icelandic researchers are showing the way to bring down rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (news). JAMA 275:175

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Mölstad S, Erntell M, Hanberger H, Melander E, Norman C, Skoog G, Lundborg C, Söderström A, Torell E, Cars O (2008) Sustained reduction of antibiotic use and low bacterial resistance: 10-year follow-up of the Swedish Strama programme. Lancet Infect Dis 8:125–132

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Finch R, Metlay J, Davey P, Baker L, International Forum on Antibiotic Resistance colloquium (2002) Educational interventions to improve antibiotic use in the community: Report from the International Forum on Antibiotic Resistance (IFAR) colloquium, 2002. Lancet Infect Dis 4:44–53

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Arroll B, Goodyear-Smith F, Thomas D, Kerse N (2002) Delayed prescriptions. What are the experiences and attitudes of doctors and patients? J Fam Pract 51:954–959

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Arroll B, Kenealy T, Kerse N (2002) Do delayed prescriptions reduce the use of antibiotics in the common cold? A single-blind controlled trial. J Fam Pract 51:324–328

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Arroll B, Kenealy T, Kerse N (2003) Do delayed prescriptions reduce antibiotic use in respiratory tract infections? A systematic review. Br J Gen Pract 53: 871–877

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Arroll B, Kenealy T, Kerse N, Goodyear-Smith F (2003) Delayed prescriptions: Can reduce antibiotic use in acute respiratory infections. BMJ 327:1361–1362

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Little P, Gould C, Williamson I, Warner G, Gauntley M, Kinmonth A (1997) Reattendance and complications in a randomised trial of prescribing strategies for sore throat: the medicalising effect of prescribing antibiotics. BMJ 315: 350–352

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Little P, Williamson I, Warner G, Gould C, Gauntley M, Kinmonth A (1997) Open randomised trial of prescribing strategies in managing sore throat. BMJ 314:722–727

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Arroll B, Goodyear-Smith F (2003) Delayed prescriptions: Evolution of an innovation. N Z Fam Physician 30:30–34

    Google Scholar 

  44. Kernan W, Viscoli C, Brass L, JP Broderick, Brott T, Feldman E, Morgenstern L, Wilterdink J, Horwitz R (2000) Phenylpropanolamine and the risk of hemorhagic stroke. N Engl J Med 343:1826–32

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Arroll B (2007) Upfront: The Augmentin free office. BPAC:6–8

    Google Scholar 

  46. Sung L, Arroll J, Arroll B, Goodyear-Smith F, Kerse N, Norris P (2006) Antibiotic use for upper respiratory tract infections before and after a education campaign as reported by general practitioners in New Zealand. N Z Med J 119:U1956

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Practice and Primary Health Car, Tamaki Campus, University of Auckland, Private Bag, 92019, Auckland, New Zealand

    Timothy W. Kenealy & Bruce Arroll

Authors
  1. Timothy W. Kenealy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruce Arroll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Common Cold Centre Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK

    Ronald Eccles

  2. Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Sigmund-Freud-Straße 25, 53105, Bonn, Germany

    Olaf Weber

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2009 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel/Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Kenealy, T.W., Arroll, B. (2009). Antibiotic use for common cold. In: Eccles, R., Weber, O. (eds) Common Cold. Birkhäuser Advances in Infectious Diseases. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-9912-2_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation