Study Analyzes Abscess Risk Post-Respiratory Infection

Peritonsillar abscess risk could be reduced by prescribing antibiotics, says a new study that assesses the benefits of prescribing antibiotics for respiratory tract infections in terms of reduction in risk of peritonsillar abscess. 11,000 anonymized electronic health records were used for this study in the United Kingdom from 2002 through 2017 to estimate the probability of peritonsillar abscess within 30 days of a consultation for a respiratory tract infection, and compared rates between people prescribed or not prescribed antibiotics.

Overall, the risk of peritonsillar abscess was low, and in two-thirds of cases, patients did not consult their primary care physician prior to developing an abscess.

The study concludes that antibiotics may only prevent one case of peritonsillar abscess for every 1,000 antibiotic prescriptions, and authors suggest that reducing antibiotic prescribing may not have a significant impact on incidence of peritonsillar abscess.



Source-Eurekalert