Does Antibiotic Treat Bronchitis

Treatment Most cases of acute bronchitis get better without treatment, usually within a couple of weeks. Medications Because most cases of bronchitis are caused by viral infections, antibiotics aren't effective. However, if your doctor suspects that you have a bacterial infection, he or she may prescribe an antibiotic. Background: Antibiotic treatment of acute bronchitis, which is one of the most common illnesses seen in primary care, is controversial. Most clinicians prescribe antibiotics in spite of expert recommendations against this practice.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of antibiotic treatment for patients with a clinical diagnosis of acute bronchitis. Bronchitis