The Overton Window and a Less Dogmatic Approach to Antibiotics

Abstract

This analysis summarizes a set of recent, innovative trials in infectious diseases that redefine previous, non-evidence based "rules" for antibiotics. Recent trials in infectious diseases have led to reconsidering the traditional treatment of infectious diseases by changing the duration or type of traditional antibiotics or evaluating new antibiotics for approval. These trials have used the noninferiority trial approach. The noninferiority trial design and recent infectious disease trials of relevance are discussed in this viewpoint. My objective was to analyze recent trials in infectious disease and consider needs for future trials.