What do systematic reviews say?

Antibiotics vs placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness

Antibiotics may leads to higher adverse effects compared with placebo, no treatment or therapy of unproven effectiveness (low certainty).

• Antibiotics for otitis media with effusion in children 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.15 [1.29, 3.6]
  5 studies · 742 participants
  Low

Antibiotics vs placebo

It is very uncertain whether antibiotics changes total adverse effects compared with placebo (very low certainty).

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for elective hysterectomy 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.8 [0.62, 5.18]
  2 studies · 430 participants
  Very low

Topical antibiotics vs another topical antibiotic or placebo

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for corneal abrasion 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  Low

Antibiotics vs placebo or usual care

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Interventions for preventing mastitis after childbirth 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antibiotics vs placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for elective hysterectomy 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics showed no clear difference in children experiencing adverse effects of antibiotics (e.g.… compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Antibiotics for prolonged wet cough in children 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.88 [0.62, 5.69]
  3 studies · 190 participants
  Low

Single preoperative dose of systemic antibiotics (clindamycin 600 mg), total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling vs Matched placebo, total chemo-mechanical debridement and root filling

• Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  7 days
  No adverse effects reported in the placebo group; 1 participant reported dizziness in the intervention group. 72 participants (1 study).
  1 study · 72 participants
  Low

Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics

• Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 days
  1 participant reported diarrhoea (placebo group); 1 participant reported fatigue and reduced energy postoperatively (antibiotic group). 61 participants (2 studies).
  2 studies · 61 participants
  Very low

Oral plus nebulised antibiotics vs oral antibiotics plus nebulised placebo

Oral plus nebulised antibiotics showed no clear difference in adverse effects of treatment compared with oral antibiotics plus nebulised placebo (low certainty).

• Interventions for the eradication of meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in people with cystic fibrosis 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 3 [0.11, 79.91]
  1 study · 29 participants
  Low

Prophylactic antibiotics vs placebo or no treatment

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Prophylactic antibiotics for preventing infection after continence surgery in women with stress urinary incontinence 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found