Table 5
Relationship between outcome (as measured by reconsultation for the same symptoms within 4 weeks) and patient groups, antibiotic use at initial consultation, and direct and indirect evidence of infection
| Reconsulted | Did not reconsult | p value if relevant | |
| All patients over one year (n=621; reconsultation data on 17 not known) | 114 (18%) | 507 (82%) | |
| Prescribed antibiotics | 64 (56%) | 50 (44%) | |
| Not prescribed antibiotics | 257 (51%) | 250 (49%) | |
| Patients investigated in detail (n=313; 3 not known) | 59 (19%) | 254 (81%) | |
| Prescribed antibiotics | 36 (61%) | 23 (39%) | |
| Not prescribed antibiotics | 145 (57%) | 109 (43%) | |
| Indirect evidence of infection (3 not known) | |||
| CRP high (⩾50 mg/l) | 8 (16%) | 41 (84%) | |
| CRP not high | 51 (19%) | 213 (81%) | |
| Infection changes on chest radiograph | 13 (28%) | 34 (72%) | 0.09 |
| No infection changes on chest radiograph | 41 (17%) | 198 (83%) | |
| Direct evidence of infection (3 not known) | |||
| Bacterial/ atypical pathogens identified (group 1) | 28 (21%) | 107 (79%) | |
| Viral or no pathogens identified (group 2) | 31 (17%) | 147 (83%) | |
| Antibiotic use and infection groups | |||
| Group 1 (antibiotic received) | 21 (26%) | 61 (74%) | |
| Group 1 (no antibiotic received) | 7 (13%) | 46 (87%) | |
| Group 2 (antibiotic received) | 15 (17%) | 84 (83%) | |
| Group 2 (no antibiotic received) | 20 (25%) | 60 (75%) |
