Researchers found that narrow-spectrum antibiotics, which act against a smaller range of bacteria, had fewer adverse effects than broad-spectrum antibiotics, which target a broader variety of bacteria.
When judged by both practical and clinical outcomes, narrow-spectrum antibiotics performed equally well or better than broad-spectrum ones, with fewer disruptions to family routines.
The study reflects an “antimicrobial stewardship” approach, guiding healthcare providers to prescribe the most appropriate antibiotic for a patient’s specific type of infection, with the aim of improving individual outcomes and reducing the overall risk of antibiotic resistance — in which disease-causing microorganisms develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics.
