Relationship between microbiology of throat swab and clinical course among primary care patients with acute cough: a prospective cohort study

Background Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRTIs) account for most antibiotics prescribed in primary care despite lack of efficacy, partly due to clinician uncertainty about aetiology and patient concerns about illness course. Nucleic acid amplification tests could assist antibiotic targeting. Methods In this prospective cohort study, 645 patients presenting to primary care with acute cough and suspected ALRTI, provided throat swabs...