Table 1.

Randomized controlled trials comparing antibiotics with placebo

Author	Number of patients randomized	Interventions	Outcome measures	Results
Abelson et al4	279	One group received azithromycin One group received “vehicle”	Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication	Higher rate of microbial and clinical cure with antibiotic.
Everitt et al5	307	Two groups received chloramphenicol One group received placebo	Symptomatic relief	Antibiotic decreased the duration of symptoms.
Hwang et al6	249	One group received levofloxacin One group received placebo	Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication	Higher rate of microbial and clinical cure with antibiotic.
Karpecki et al7	269	One group received besifloxacin One group received “vehicle”	Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication	Higher rate of microbial and clinical cure with antibiotic
Leibowitz8	177	One group received ciprofloxacin One group received placebo	Culture results	Higher rate of microbial cure with antibiotic.
Lichtenstein and Rinehart9	167	One group received levofloxacin One group received ofloxacin One group received placebo	Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication	Higher rate of microbial and clinical cure with antibiotics.
Miller et al10	284	One group received norfloxacin One group received placebo	Bacterial eradication and clinical resolution	Higher rate of microbial and clinical cure with antibiotic.
Rietveld et al11	181	One group received fusidic acid One group received placebo	Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication	No difference in clinical recovery rate but higher rate of microbial eradication with antibiotic
Rose et al12	326	One group received chloramphenicol One group received placebo	Clinical cure by day 7	No significant difference between antibiotic and placebo
Tepedino et al13	957	One group received besifloxacin One group received “vehicle”	Clinical resolution and bacterial eradication	Higher rate of microbial and clinical cure with antibiotic