Antibiotic treatment of common bacterial respiratory tract infection in general practice.

Respiratory tract infections, particularly in children, are some of the most common conditions seen in general practice. It would seem reasonable, therefore, that these conditions would be treated well. However, analysis of the figures taken from the Australian Morbidity Survey conducted by The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners shows that whilst most general practitioners use antibiotics satisfactorily, there are a few occasions in which it is fairly obvious that there is a lack of knowledge of the action of a particular antibiotic against a specific organism. This article is not intended to be a treatise on the microbiology of different respiratory tract infections and antibiotic use, but it is intended to be a guide to the treatment of common respiratory infections as seen in general practice.