Why is it important to not use antibiotics when you have bronchitis?

Acute bronchitis is also known as a chest cold and it is usually caused by a virus. Antibiotics do not work with viral infections. Bronchitis occurs when the tubes carrying air into the lungs become inflamed and produce mucus that can cause a cough. The cough and other signs of bronchitis last about two weeks. Antibiotics will only work or help if your infection is caused by bacteria.

Using antibiotics when they are not needed can make some bacteria become more resistant. Infections caused by resistant bacteria are harder to treat and cure.

How should doctors treat bronchitis?

Your doctor may suggest over-the-counter medicines like cough drops, drinking plenty of fluids, and other self-care methods to help you feel better. A chest cold will last about two weeks and usually doesn’t need antibiotics.

Talk with your doctor and health plan to find out about what other services are available. Many health plans offer additional support and resources for patients with bronchitis. These additional services may be educational materials (online and in print), classes or support groups, or phone counseling.

What do the stars mean?

The scores show how well each medical group did at making sure patients who have acute bronchitis were not given an antibiotic — medicines that don’t work for these viral infections. The higher score means more patients got the right care at the right time.

The scores are based on information from at least 30 medical group patient records in 2023.