Comparison 4. Antibiotic use.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
4.1 Antibiotic use: delayed versus immediate antibiotics	8		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.1.1 Antibiotic use: delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus immediate antibiotics	4	892	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.06 [0.02, 0.16]
4.1.2 Antibiotic use: delayed (prescription collection) versus immediate antibiotics	5	1466	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.02 [0.01, 0.04]
4.1.3 Antibiotic use: delayed (both strategies) versus immediate antibiotics	8	2257	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.03 [0.01, 0.07]
4.2 Antibiotic use: delayed versus no antibiotics	5		Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
4.2.1 Antibiotic use: delayed (prescription at time of visit) versus no antibiotics	3	694	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	3.24 [2.19, 4.82]
4.2.2 Antibiotic use: delayed (prescription collection) versus no antibiotics	3	937	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.06 [1.16, 3.64]
4.2.3 Antibiotic use: delayed (all strategies) versus no antibiotics	5	1529	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	2.52 [1.69, 3.75]