This Clinical Report was retired July 2017. Most upper respiratory tract infections are caused
by viruses and require no antibiotics. This clinical report focuses on antibiotic prescribing
strategies for bacterial upper respiratory tract infections, including acute otitis media, acute
bacterial sinusitis, and streptococcal pharyngitis. The principles for judicious antibiotic
prescribing that are outlined focus on applying stringent diagnostic criteria, weighing the
benefits and harms of antibiotic therapy, and understanding situations when antibiotics may …