Shorter Antibiotic Course Duration May Be as Effective

Longer vs Shorter Antibiotic Duration in Older Adults Shows Similar Outcomes

Feb 26, 2025

∙ Paid

A digital illustration depicting a medical research study on antibiotic duration in older adults, using warm colors to evoke positive emotions. The image features a split comparison: on the left, a doctor prescribing a short antibiotic course (3-7 days), and on the right, a doctor prescribing a longer course (8-14 days). In the background, an elderly patient is shown recovering in both scenarios, with subtle medical charts displaying bacterial resistance analysis. The setting is a modern hospital or clinic environment, emphasizing healthcare and research.

Topline

A large retrospective study found that longer antibiotic courses (8-14 days) did not provide additional benefits or increase adverse effects compared to shorter courses (3-7 days) in community-dwelling older adults. These findings could help guide more judicious antibiotic prescribing practices.

Study Details

Researchers analyzed administrative hea…

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