Delayed antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory tract infections: does the strategy work?

Delayed antibiotic prescribing, also known as a “back pocket prescription”, is a strategy of providing a patient with a prescription for an antibiotic, but advising them not to fill it unless their symptoms persist or worsen, or if laboratory results (if requested) subsequently indicate a bacterial infection. Delayed antibiotic prescriptions are most often considered for patients with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs), which is the focus of the following article.