Table 2 Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria [10] | Exclusion criteria |
|---|---|
acute cough (< 21 days) and at least one of the following sign/symptom: | previous prescription of antibiotics for the current episode |
• history of fever for more than 4 days • dyspnoea • tachypnoea (> 22 cycles per minute) • abnormal focal finding upon lung auscultation | working diagnosis of acute sinusitis or of a non-infective disorder |
previous episode of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation treated with antibiotics during the last 6 months | |
known pregnancy | |
severe immunodeficiency (untreated HIV infection with CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3, solid organ transplant receiver, neutropenia (< 1000 cells/μl), treatment with corticosteroids (dose equivalent to 20 mg prednisone/day for > 28 days) | |
decision by the GP to admit the patient | |
GP not available for performing study | |
patient unable to provide informed consent |