The experts say there has been too little research into the ideal length of a course of antibiotics, which also varies from one individual to the next, depending in part on what antibiotics they have taken in the past. “Outside hospital, where repeated testing may not be feasible, patients might be best advised to stop treatment when they feel better,” they say. “The evidence for ‘completing the course’ is poor, and the length of the course of antibiotics has been estimated based on a fear of under-treating rather than any studies,” she said. “Recommended courses of antibiotics are not random,” said its chair, Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard. It’s important that patients have clear messages and the mantra to always take the full course of antibiotics is well known.

Source: The Guardian July 26, 2017 22:30 UTC