[Duration of antibiotic therapy for common respiratory infections in adults].

Antibiotic therapy is not recommended for the majority of adult outpatients with a respiratory tract infection. When antibiotic therapy is mandatory, its duration should be as short as possible in order to avoid side effects and reduce costs. This literature review summarises the recommendations for new, shorter courses of antibiotics. The recommended duration of antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation and acute otitis media is now 5 days, 6 days for pharyngitis and between 5 and 7 days for sinusitis. These recommendations do not apply to severe or complicated infections, infections with resistant agents or in immunosuppressed patients.