Association between antibiotic prescribing and time to diagnosis of head and neck cancer

Diagnostic delay can negatively affect patient outcomes in head and neck cancer (HNC). Neck mass and other symptoms of undiagnosed HNC may be treated with antibiotics, delaying diagnosis and treatment. In a cohort study of 7811 patients with HNC, 15.6% received an antibiotic within 3 months of HNC diagnosis, resulting in a significant 21.1% longer time to HNC diagnosis. This prescribing rate was static of the study period (2011-2018), and certain clinical and oncologic factors were associated with higher rates of antibiotic prescription. The authors conclude that the findings of this study suggest that antibiotic-associated HNC diagnostic delays frequently occur, indicating room for improvement in current clinical practice guidelines.