BMJ  2006;333 (12 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7563.0

Delay prescribing of antibiotics for acute conjunctivitis

Delayed prescribing of topical antibiotics is probably the best strategy for managing acute conjunctivitis in primary care, say Everitt and colleagues (p 321). They randomised more than 300 adults and children with acute infective conjunctivitis from 30 general practices to one of three prescribing strategies—immediate antibiotics (chloramphenicol eye drops), no antibiotics (controls), or delayed antibiotics (prescription to be collected at patients' discretion after three days). Prescribing strategies did not affect the severity of symptoms, but duration of moderate symptoms was less with antibiotics (immediate or delayed). However, delayed prescribing reduced antibiotic use and reattendance compared with immediate prescribing.

Credit: P MARAZZI/SPL

 

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