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Chest colds: Do antibiotics help?

Sep 28, 2021 - McMaster University - 15 minutes

Are antibiotics really necessary to treat a chest cold? In this video, Dr. Anthony Levinson and infectious disease expert Dr. Zain Chagla discuss acute bronchitis, what it is, common symptoms, how it is best treated, and the role that antibiotics might play. Meet Helen, who woke up with a sudden onset of a new, dry cough; and coughed consistently throughout the day for 48 hours.

Learn the answers to the following questions:

What is acute bronchitis?
What are the main signs and symptoms of acute bronchitis?
How is acute bronchitis typically diagnosed?
Do antibiotics work to treat acute bronchitis?
Why might antibiotics be prescribed to treat acute bronchitis?
What can you do to help manage the symptoms of acute bronchitis?
Is there a role for cough suppressants?
What are the preventative measures to avoid getting acute bronchitis?
Does prolonged acute bronchitis indicate the need for antibiotics?

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Author Details

Anthony Levinson

Dr. Anthony J. Levinson is a Professor at McMaster University and holds the John R. Evans Chair in Health Sciences Educational Research and Instructional Development. One of the co-leaders of the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, Dr. Levinson is also a psychiatrist with a special interest in medical psychiatry and neuropsychiatry. His area of research interest includes online learning to improve healthcare provider and patient education.

Author Details

Zain Chagla

Dr. Zain Chagla is an Associate Professor of Medicine at McMaster University and adjunct faculty at the University of Namibia in the Department of Medicine. He specializes in internal medicine, tropical medicine, and infectious diseases. He is a Consultant Physician at St. Joseph's Hospital and Hamilton Health Sciences in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. His research and clinical interests include global health and tropical medicine, education and microbial stewardship, infections in renal transplantation, and ultrasound in infectious diseases.

References

McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. For acute bronchitis, antibiotics can reduce cough by about half a day but can cause side-effects. (n.d.). Accessed August 20, 2021. Available from: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/full-article/es/acute-bronchitis-antibiotics-reduce-cough-day-side-effects-81
McMaster Optimal Aging Portal. Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. (n.d.). Accessed August 20, 2021. Available from: https://www.mcmasteroptimalaging.org/full-article/es/antibiotics-acute-bronchitis-1679
Smith SM, Fahey T, Smucny J, Becker LA. Antibiotics for acute bronchitis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(6). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000245.pub4
Wark P. Bronchitis (acute). BMJ Clin Evid. 2015 Jul:1508.
Johns Hopkins Medicine. Acute Bronchitis. (n.d.). Accessed August 20, 2021. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/acute-bronchitis.
Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Chest Cold (Acute Bronchitis). 2021. Accessed August 20, 2021. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/bronchitis.html.
Lange P, Parner J, Prescott E, Vestbo J. Chronic bronchitis in an elderly population. Age Ageing. 2003;32(6):636-642. doi:10.1093/ageing/afg108
Martineau AR, Jolliffe DA, Hooper RL, et al. Vitamin D supplementation to prevent acute respiratory tract infections: systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data. BMJ. 2017;356. doi:10.1136/bmj.i6583
Choosing Wisely Canada. Using Antibiotics Wisely. (n.d.). Accessed August 20, 2021. Available from: https://choosingwiselycanada.org/campaign/antibiotics/#a2.
Choosing Wisely Canada. Using Antibiotics Wisely in Primary Care. (n.d.) Accessed August 20, 2021. Available from: https://choosingwiselycanada.org/campaign/antibiotics-primary-care.

Acknowledgements

This work is supported through the McMaster Institute for Research on Aging and funds provided by the Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University.

DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.

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