Top Line: Does antibiotic prescribing delay the diagnosis of head and neck cancer?
The Study: It’s not uncommon, when seeing a new head and neck cancer patient, to see that they were prescribed antibiotics prior to being diagnosed with cancer. This study took a look at trends in antibiotic prescribing in patients eventually diagnosed with head and neck cancer and whether it was associated with delays in diagnosis. Between 2011 and 2018, a cohort of 7811 patients were diagnosed with head and neck cancer. In the 3 months prior to diagnosis, 15.6% were prescribed at least 1 antibiotic, which was almost twice the baseline rate seen in the cohort 9-12 months prior to diagnosis (8.9%). More importantly, in patients who were prescribed antibiotics, the time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 21.1% longer than those not prescribed antibiotics. Primary care providers were more likely to prescribe antibiotics. White patients and those presenting with symptoms other than a neck mass were more likely to receive antibiotics.
TBL: In patients presenting with head and neck cancer, antibiotic prescribing is associated with delays in cancer diagnosis. | Gallogly, JAMA Oncol 2023
The Study: It’s not uncommon, when seeing a new head and neck cancer patient, to see that they were prescribed antibiotics prior to being diagnosed with cancer. This study took a look at trends in antibiotic prescribing in patients eventually diagnosed with head and neck cancer and whether it was associated with delays in diagnosis. Between 2011 and 2018, a cohort of 7811 patients were diagnosed with head and neck cancer. In the 3 months prior to diagnosis, 15.6% were prescribed at least 1 antibiotic, which was almost twice the baseline rate seen in the cohort 9-12 months prior to diagnosis (8.9%). More importantly, in patients who were prescribed antibiotics, the time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 21.1% longer than those not prescribed antibiotics. Primary care providers were more likely to prescribe antibiotics. White patients and those presenting with symptoms other than a neck mass were more likely to receive antibiotics.
TBL: In patients presenting with head and neck cancer, antibiotic prescribing is associated with delays in cancer diagnosis. | Gallogly, JAMA Oncol 2023