Podcast #254: Myths About Antibiotic Course Length

Author: Chris Holmes, M.D.

Educational Pearls

• There’s little/no data about the necessary length of an antibiotic course, nor has it proven that stopping a course of antibiotics early selects for the most resistant bugs.
• There’s little incentive for drug companies to fund this type of study.
• Pro-calcitonin levels have been used in some settings to distinguish if an infection has resolved or not, but this may not be feasible in an outpatient setting.

References: Llewelyn, Martin J et al. The antibiotic course has had its day. 2017. BMJ