Echinacea Reduces Antibiotics by Preventing Respiratory Infections: A Meta-Analysis (ERA-PRIMA)

Gancitano, G., Mucci, N., Stange, R., Ogal, M., Vimalanathan, S., Sreya, M., Booker, A., Hadj-Cherif, B., Albrich, W., Woelkart-Ardjomand, K., Kreft, S., Vanden Berghe, W., Hoexter, G., Schapowal, A. and Johnston, S.L. 2024. Echinacea Reduces Antibiotics by Preventing Respiratory Infections: A Meta-Analysis (ERA-PRIMA). Antibiotics. 13 (4) 364. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13040364

TitleEchinacea Reduces Antibiotics by Preventing Respiratory Infections: A Meta-Analysis (ERA-PRIMA)
TypeJournal article
AuthorsGancitano, G., Mucci, N., Stange, R., Ogal, M., Vimalanathan, S., Sreya, M., Booker, A., Hadj-Cherif, B., Albrich, W., Woelkart-Ardjomand, K., Kreft, S., Vanden Berghe, W., Hoexter, G., Schapowal, A. and Johnston, S.L.
Abstract

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the leading cause of antibiotic prescriptions, primarily due to the risk for secondary bacterial infections. In this study, we examined whether Echinacea could reduce the need for antibiotics by preventing RTIs and their complications, and subsequently investigated its safety profile. A comprehensive search of EMBASE, PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane DARE and clinicaltrials.gov identified 30 clinical trials (39 comparisons) studying Echinacea for the prevention or treatment of RTIs in 5652 subjects. Echinacea significantly reduced the monthly RTI occurrence, risk ratio (RR) 0.68 (95% CI 0.61–0.77) and number of patients with ≥1 RTI, RR = 0.75 [95% CI 0.69–0.81] corresponding to an odds ratio 0.53 [95% CI 0.42–0.67]. Echinacea reduced the risk of recurrent infections (RR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.46–0.80), RTI complications (RR = 0.44; 95% CI 0.36–0.54) and the need for antibiotic therapy (RR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.39–0.93), with total antibiotic therapy days reduced by 70% (IRR = 0.29; 95% CI 0.11–0.74). Alcoholic extracts from freshly harvested Echinacea purpurea were the strongest, with an 80% reduction of antibiotic treatment days, IRR 0.21 [95% CI 0.15–0.28]. An equal number of adverse events occurred with Echinacea and control treatment. Echinacea can safely prevent RTIs and associated complications, thereby decreasing the demand for antibiotics. Relevant differences exist between Echinacea preparations.

Keywords Echinacea
prevention
respiratory tract infections
antibiotics
recurrent RTIs
complications
Article number364
JournalAntibiotics
Journal citation13 (4)
ISSN2079-6382
Year2024
PublisherMDPI
Publisher's version
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13040364
PubMed ID38667040
Web address (URL)https://www.mdpi.com/2753376
Publication dates
Published online16 Apr 2024

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