What do systematic reviews say?

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics probably leads to higher patient satisfaction: delayed (prescription collection) versus no… compared with no antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.45 [1.08, 1.96]
  5 studies · 1523 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics showed no clear difference in reconsultation rate: delayed (all strategies) versus no antibiotics compared with no antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.83 [0.46, 1.52]
  2 studies · 584 participants
  Moderate

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

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics probably leads to lower antibiotic use: delayed (all strategies) versus immediate antibiotics compared with immediate antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.03 [0.01, 0.07]
  8 studies · 2257 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics showed no clear difference in patient satisfaction: delayed (all strategies) versus immediate… compared with immediate antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.77 [0.45, 1.29]
  7 studies · 1927 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics showed no clear difference in reconsultation rate: delayed (all strategies) versus immediate… compared with immediate antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.04 [0.66, 1.63]
  4 studies · 972 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics

Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics probably leads to higher antibiotic use: delayed (all strategies) versus no antibiotics compared with no antibiotics (moderate certainty).

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 2.52 [1.69, 3.75]
  5 studies · 1529 participants
  Moderate

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 immediate antibiotics

• Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  11 studies · 2748 participants
  Moderate

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
  3 studies · 1077 participants
  Moderate

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
  5 studies · 1685 participants
  Moderate

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 · 585 participants
  Moderate