Conclusion
Most suppurative complications are uncommon in
primary care, and most are not serious. The risks of
suppurative complications or reconsultation with nonresolving
or new symptoms in adults are reduced by
antibiotics, but the eff ect of immediate antibiotic
prescription for complications is less than trial evidence
suggests, with very high NNT. Although in most cases
an antibiotic is not needed, delayed antibiotic
prescription and no antibiotic prescription do not have
equivalent outcomes. If an antibiotic prescription is
being considered, a delayed antibiotic prescription
strategy is likely to provide a similar reduction in
complications to an immediate antibiotic prescription,
and with reduced reconsultations