People with sinus infections are often prescribed antibiotics that are more powerful than necessary, a new study has found.
cause more prescriptions for antibiotics than any other condition, but there's no consensus which antibiotic is best for simple cases, researchers said.in the U.S. each year, these findings have the potential to make a substantial impact on current treatment practices,” said lead researcher Dr.
Timothy Savage, an associate epidemiologist at Mass General Brigham in Boston.Clavulanate inhibits an enzyme that makes bacteria resistant to amoxicillin, researchers said. However, not all bacteria that cause sinus infections make this enzyme, calling into question whether the amoxicillin-clavulanate combo is really necessary. “Amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate account for roughly 45% of antibiotic prescriptions for acute sinusitisFor the new study, researchers analyzed insurance claims data for more than 521,000 adults diagnosed with acute sinusitis between 2018 and 2023. All patients had been prescribed a daily dose of either amoxicillin or amoxicillin-clavulanate. Results showed there was no difference in treatment failure between amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate . Guidelines suggest the combo might benefit patients who are immunocompromised, but researchers found no difference in these patients either. Further, there was a higher risk of secondary infections with the amoxicillin-clavulanate combo than with the straight antibiotic, researchers noted. Using standard amoxicillin might also help health care professionals stem the rise of antibiotic-resistant bugs, Savage added. It's likely that many patients with inflamed sinuses don't even need simple amoxicillin, and could get by without it, he said. “Future research is needed to refine which patients will benefit from an antibiotic, and who are more likely to have viral infections and can be observed with supportive care,” Savage said.Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system where the body's defenses react to substances such as pollen, food and more. Learn about common allergy triggers and how you can avoid an allergy attack.
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