Are antibiotics effective for people with bronchitis?

Over the past 20 years there have been several randomized controlled trials designed to assess the benefit of antibiotics in treating acute bronchitis. Despite sufficient data (now more than a dozen double-blind studies) showing no clinical benefit for antibiotics in acute bronchitis, these drugs are prescribed by 70 percent of doctors who encounter a patient presenting with acute bronchitis. This practice is also in direct conflict with the practice guidelines of the American College of Chest Physicians - the medical specialty that deals with bronchitis and other respiratory disorders. According to their most recent guidelines, "The widespread use of antibiotics for the treatment of acute bronchitis is not justified, and vigorous efforts to curtail their use should be encouraged." Nonetheless, most doctors regularly prescribe an antibiotic for acute bronchitis even though it provides no benefit and does have significant risks. The risks include overgrowth of Candida albicans, disruption of normal gut microflora, and the possibility of developing antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria.

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