{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,22]],"date-time":"2026-04-22T23:26:13Z","timestamp":1776900373349,"version":"3.51.2"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]],"date-time":"2025-08-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1754006400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Funds through FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia, I.P.","award":["UIDB\/4255\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/4255\/2020"]}]},{"name":"National Funds through FCT\u2014Funda\u00e7\u00e3o para a Ci\u00eancia e Tecnologia, I.P.","award":["LA\/P\/0053\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0053\/2020"]}]},{"name":"CINTESIS, R&amp;D Unit","award":["UIDB\/4255\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/4255\/2020"]}]},{"name":"CINTESIS, R&amp;D Unit","award":["LA\/P\/0053\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0053\/2020"]}]},{"name":"scope of the project RISE, Associated Laboratory","award":["UIDB\/4255\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UIDB\/4255\/2020"]}]},{"name":"scope of the project RISE, Associated Laboratory","award":["LA\/P\/0053\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["LA\/P\/0053\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Antibiotics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Context: Many patients at the end of life receive antibiotics to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life; however, clear guidelines supporting decision making about the use of antibiotics are still lacking. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the benefits and harms of antibiotic use among patients under a palliative care community support team in Portugal. Methods: An observational, cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted on 249 patients who died over a two-year period, having been followed for at least 30 days prior to their death. Data included patient demographics, clinical diagnoses, antibiotic prescriptions, and symptomatic outcomes. The effects of commonly prescribed antibiotics\u2014amoxicillin + clavulanic acid, cefixime, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin\u2014were compared using statistical analyses to assess survival, symptom intensity, and functional scales. Results: Adverse events, primarily infections and secretions, occurred in 57.8% of cases, with 33.7% receiving antibiotics. No significant difference in survival was observed across the antibiotic groups (p = 0.990). Symptom intensity significantly reduced after 72 h of treatment (p &lt; 0.05), with ciprofloxacin demonstrating the greatest symptom control. The Palliative Outcome Scale decreased uniformly, with higher scores associated with amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (p = 0.004). The Palliative Performance Scale declined post-treatment, with significant changes noted for cefixime and ciprofloxacin (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Antibiotics may improve symptom control and quality of life in the end-of-life stage. While second-line antibiotics may offer additional benefits, the heterogeneity of the sample and limited adverse effect data underscore the need for further research to guide appropriate prescription practices in palliative care.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/antibiotics14080782","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,6]],"date-time":"2025-08-06T10:13:51Z","timestamp":1754475231000},"page":"782","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Benefits and Harms of Antibiotic Use in End-of-Life Patients: Retrospective Study in Palliative Care"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-8765-7348","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rita Faustino","family":"Silva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-7538-0158","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana Brand\u00e3o","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0209-7670","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ant\u00f3nio Pereira","family":"Neves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RISE-Health, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2219-569X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniel","family":"Canelas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2656-8935","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jo\u00e3o Rocha","family":"Neves","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RISE-Health, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, Local Health Unit S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2585-200X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Paulo","family":"Andrade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"RISE-Health, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, Local Health Unit S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5003-4722","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mar\u00edlia","family":"Dourado","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, Unidade Local de Sa\u00fade\u2014Alto Ave, 4835-044 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6623-7420","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hugo","family":"Ribeiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, Celas, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"RISE-Health, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal"},{"name":"Department of Vascular Surgery, Unidade Local de Sa\u00fade\u2014Alto Ave, 4835-044 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"},{"name":"Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal"},{"name":"Community Palliative Care Team Gaia, Local Health Unit Gaia and Espinho, 4400-129 Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,8,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Organiza\u00e7\u00e3o Mundial da Sa\u00fade (2025, June 15). 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