Use delayed antibiotic prescriptions for appropriate low-risk infections

For carefully selected, non-severe infections that are likely to resolve without antibiotics, clinicians can use delayed or back-up prescriptions rather than immediate treatment. Patients receive explicit criteria for when to start the medicine, expected symptom duration, warning signs and access to reassessment.

This approach can reduce antibiotic consumption while preserving a treatment route if the illness worsens. It is inappropriate for suspected sepsis, severe infection, major immunosuppression or patients unlikely to obtain timely follow-up.