Antibiotics aren't needed for lower respiratory tract infection

Question What is the optimal management strategy for acute uncomplicated lower respiratory tract infection?

Synopsis The investigators enrolled 807 adults and children presenting to their primary care clinician with cough and at least one other symptom referable to the lower respiratory tract (coloured sputum, chest pain, dyspnoea, or wheezing). Patients with asthma, other chronic lung diseases, or suspected pneumonia were excluded. Participants were randomly assigned (concealed allocation assignment) in a factorial design to one of six groups. They received an educational leaflet on cough or no leaflet, and were then placed in one of three antibiotic groups (immediate antibiotics, …