Washington, Nov 16: A new study by researchers at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine has found that antibiotics that are routinely prescribed for acute bronchitis are totally unnecessary.

Richard P. Wenzel, M.D., professor and chair in the Department of Internal Medicine at the VCU School of Medicine, and Alpha A. Fowler III, M.D., chair in the Division of Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine, conducted a critical review of the world literature.

They examined research studies and clinical trials regarding acute bronchitis as they related to individuals, pathology, diagnosis, treatment strategies and any data supporting the potential benefits of anti-bacterial agents.

The researchers concluded there is no evidence in current literature to support prescribing antibiotics for the treatment of short-term bronchitis as almost all the causes of such infections are viral and therefore don't respond to the therapy.

The researchers revealed that though approximately 70 percent to 80 percent of individuals are prescribed antibiotics for treatment lasting five to 10 days, only a small percentage of acute bronchitis cases are caused by bacteria that physicians can treat, such as whooping cough.

"As a community of medicine we have a habit of prescribing a lot of medication. There are many things we prescribe that are not based on evidence in the literature," said Wenzel.

"Based on our review of the data in the literature, we are not practicing evidence-based medicine when it comes to the treatment of acute bronchitis," he added.

The researchers also found that in addition to there being little effect of antibiotics on acute bronchitis, they may cause adverse side effects such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea and rash that may require further treatment.

"There is a long history of patients receiving antibiotics for acute bronchitis and they have come to expect receiving a prescription for treatment. Physicians can help patients by not prescribing them antibiotics for acute bronchitis – saving them from potential side effects and unnecessary costs," Wenzel said.

"Physicians should inform their patients that there are no data in the literature to support the use of antibiotics for this condition," he added. (ANI)