Mapping the evidence about the natural history of acute infections commonly seen in primary care and managed with antibiotics: a scoping review

BACKGROUND: Knowing the natural history of acute infections in primary care, defined as the course of a disease over time in the absence of specific therapy or treatment, can inform clinicians' and patients' expectations about illness recovery, but this evidence is fragmented across the literature. This scoping review aimed to map existing research and research gaps relevant to the natural history of acute infections.METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL using a 2-phase hierarchical search approach. In Phase A, we focused on identifying systematic reviews synthesising natural history data for eligible infections (acute respiratory, urinary, and skin and soft tissue) and systematic reviews of treatment effectiveness (of RCTs with placebo or no treatment arm, or cohort studies). For infections without existing reviews, in Phase B, we searched for primary studies (placebo-controlled RCTs or cohort studies). Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the data (study characteristics, outcome data - e.g., symptom duration, proportion with resolution at various time points).RESULTS: We identified 40 systematic reviews, reporting on 45 infections, most commonly (90%) respiratory tract infections. Six (15%) of these aimed to synthesise natural history information. Most reviews reported the proportion of participants with symptom resolution at various time point/s, with 58% providing data on mean symptom duration. Recovery data show the spontaneous resolution of some infections in some people. We found no eligible studies for cellulitis, ecthyma, carbuncle, and erysipelas.CONCLUSIONS: Our review has shown that natural history evidence exists for many common acute infections. It can be utilised by clinicians in implementing patient-centred antibiotic stewardship strategies in primary care. Future research should focus on generating natural history evidence for skin and soft tissue infections and urinary tract infections.</p

Appropriateness of Antibiotic Prescribing for Acute Conjunctivitis: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Specialist Eye Hospital in Ghana, 2021

Most presentations of conjunctivitis are acute. Studies show that uncomplicated cases resolve within 14 days without medication. However, antibiotic prescription remains standard practice. With antimicrobial resistance becoming a public health concern, we undertook this study to assess antibiotic prescription patterns in managing acute conjunctivitis in an eye hospital in Ghana. We recorded 3708 conjunctivitis cases; 201 were entered as acute conjunctivitis in the electronic medical records (January to December 2021). Of these, 44% were males, 56% were females, 39% were under 5 years, 21% were children and adolescents (5–17 years) and 40% were adults (≥18 years). A total of 111 (55.2%) patients received antibiotics, of which 71.2% were appropriately prescribed. The use of antibiotics was more frequent in children under 17 years compared to adults (p < 0.0001). Of the prescribed antibiotics, 44% belonged to the AWaRe “Access” category (Gentamycin, Tetracycline ointment), while 56% received antibiotics in the “Watch” category (Ciprofloxacin, Tobramycin). Although most of the antibiotic prescribing were appropriate, the preponderance of use of the Watch category warrants stewardship to encompass topical antibiotics. The rational use of topical antibiotics in managing acute conjunctivitis will help prevent antimicrobial resistance, ensure effective health care delivery, and contain costs for patients and the health system

Mapping the evidence about the natural history of acute infections commonly seen in primary care and managed with antibiotics: a scoping review

Abstract Background Knowing the natural history of acute infections in primary care, defined as the course of a disease over time in the absence of specific therapy or treatment, can inform clinicians’ and patients’ expectations about illness recovery, but this evidence is fragmented across the literature. This scoping review aimed to map existing research and research gaps relevant to the natural history of acute infections. Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL using a 2-phase hierarchical search approach. In Phase A, we focused on identifying systematic reviews synthesising natural history data for eligible infections (acute respiratory, urinary, and skin and soft tissue) and systematic reviews of treatment effectiveness (of RCTs with placebo or no treatment arm, or cohort studies). For infections without existing reviews, in Phase B, we searched for primary studies (placebo-controlled RCTs or cohort studies). Two reviewers independently screened and extracted the data (study characteristics, outcome data - e.g., symptom duration, proportion with resolution at various time points). Results We identified 40 systematic reviews, reporting on 45 infections, most commonly (90%) respiratory tract infections. Six (15%) of these aimed to synthesise natural history information. Most reviews reported the proportion of participants with symptom resolution at various time point/s, with 58% providing data on mean symptom duration. Recovery data show the spontaneous resolution of some infections in some people. We found no eligible studies for cellulitis, ecthyma, carbuncle, and erysipelas. Conclusions Our review has shown that natural history evidence exists for many common acute infections. It can be utilised by clinicians in implementing patient-centred antibiotic stewardship strategies in primary care. Future research should focus on generating natural history evidence for skin and soft tissue infections and urinary tract infections

People's expectations about the likely duration of common acute infections: a national survey of the Australian public

Objectives:To explore people’s expectations about the likely duration of acute infections that are commonly managed in primary care and if care is sought for these infections, reasons for doing so.Design:A cross-sectional online survey.Participants:A nationwide sample of 589 Australian residents, ≥18 years old with representative quotas for age and gender, recruited via an online panel provider.Outcome measures:For eight acute infections, participants’ estimated duration of each, time until they would seek care, and reasons for seeking care.Results:For four infections, participants’ mean estimates of duration were within an evidence-based range - common cold (7.2 days), sore throat (5.2 days), acute otitis media (6.2 days), and impetigo (8.3 days); and &gt;70% of participants estimated a duration within the range. However, participants estimated mean duration was shorter than evidence-based estimates for acute cough (7.6 days), sinusitis (5.6 days), conjunctivitis (5.7 days), and uncomplicated urinary tract infections (5.4 days); and &gt;60% of participants underestimated the duration. Of the 589 participants, 365 (62%) indicated they were unlikely to routinely seek care for self-limiting infections. Most common reasons for care-seeking were severe or worsening symptoms, a desire for quick recovery, and fear of progression to complications. After being shown typical durations, the proportion of participants who reported having no concerns waiting for spontaneous resolution while managing symptoms with over-the-counter medications ranged across the infections and was highest for common cold (68%) and lowest for UTI (31%).Conclusion:Participants underestimated the duration of some infections compared to evidence-based estimates and were accurate in their estimates for other infections. Many stated that they would not be concerned about waiting for illnesses to self-resolve after learning the typical duration. Communicating the expected duration of common acute infections during routine consultations can help manage patients’ expectations of recovery and need to seek care

Information about the natural history of acute infections commonly seen in primary care: a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines

Abstract Background Many of the acute infections that are seen in primary care and sometimes managed with antibiotics are self-resolving and antibiotics may be unnecessary. Information about the natural history of these infections underpins antibiotic stewardship strategies such as delayed prescribing and shared decision making, yet whether it’s reported in guidelines is unknown. We examined, in clinical guidelines, the reporting of natural history information and relevant antibiotic stewardship strategies for acute infections commonly seen in primary care. Methods A systematic review of national and international guidelines (2010 onwards), available electronically, for managing acute infections (respiratory, urinary, or skin and soft tissue). We searched MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, TRIP, and GIN databases and websites of 22 guideline-publishing organisations. Results We identified 82 guidelines, covering 114 eligible infections. Natural history information was reported in 49 (59.8%) of the guidelines and 66 (57.9%) of the reported conditions, most commonly for respiratory tract infections. Quantitative information about the expected infection duration was provided for 63.5% (n = 42) of the infections. Delayed antibiotic prescribing strategy was recommended for 34.2% (n = 39) of them and shared decision making for 21% (n = 24). Conclusions Just over half of the guidelines for acute infections that are commonly managed in primary care and sometimes with antibiotics contained natural history information. As many of these infections spontaneously improve, this is a missed opportunity to disseminate this information to clinicians, promote antibiotic stewardship, and facilitate conversations with patients and informed decision making. Systematic review registration CRD4202124704