What do systematic reviews say?

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 1302 participants
  Low

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 674 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics vs placebo compared

Antibiotic therapy showed no clear difference in treatment harms (adverse events or side effects associated with… compared with placebo compared to placebo (low certainty).

• Antibiotic therapy versus no antibiotic therapy for children aged 2 to 59 months with WHO‐defined non‐severe pneumonia… 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.81 [0.6, 1.09]
  3 studies · 3253 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in adverse effects: gastrointestinal bleeding (moderate certainty).

• Osmotic therapies added to antibiotics for acute bacterial meningitis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.93 [0.39, 2.19]
  3 studies · 607 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes adverse effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea (very low certainty).

• Osmotic therapies added to antibiotics for acute bacterial meningitis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.09 [0.81, 1.47]
  2 studies · 851 participants
  Very low