Offering patients in health clinics kits with over-the-counter cough and cold medicines appears to significantly reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, according to a new U.S. study.
Researchers from the Minnesota Antibiotics Resistance Collaborative found patients with upper respiratory illnesses or acute bronchitis who visited clinics that distributed the kits were significantly less likely to fill a prescription for antibiotics within three days.
Upper respiratory illnesses and acute bronchitis are generally caused by viral rather than bacterial infections. The overuse of antibiotics, which only work on bacteria, have been cited as one of the major causes of the emergence of drug resistant strains of disease.
“Providing cough and cold care kits does appear to be a useful tool if used with patients who have upper respiratory illness or acute bronchitis to decrease unnecessary antibiotic use,” said Pamala Gahr of the Minnesota Department of Health who helped research the study.
Anxious to relieve discomfort
The kits, first distributed by three local health plans during the winter of 2000-2001, contained pain relievers, decongestant, cough syrup, lozenges, a packet of powdered chicken soup and a tea bag.
The following year, six local health plans distributed about 31,000 kits.
Gahr said researchers had received a lot of anecdotal feedback from doctors who said that it was “a great idea” to have something to give patients who didn’t need antibiotics but were anxious for something to relieve their discomfort.
Researchers, however, said follow-up studies were required because of the study’s limited scope.
