Strategies to reduce antibiotic use with the help of complementary and integrative medicine

Limiting antibiotic use is urgent due to increasing antibiotic resistance and the long-term implications of a disturbed microbiome. Data on antibiotic use of physicians integrating conventional and complementary medicine show that a significant reduction of antibiotic use in primary care is possible. In the setting of non-complicated infections in out-patient medicine, open dialogue with the patient, recognizing the importance of fever and reducing antipyretic use are general measures that can help reduce patients' concerns, and increase their trust in a well-functioning immune system and a treatment approach without antibiotics. Accumulating evidence suggests that complementary medicine strategies are useful in the management of common infections without antibiotics.