Understanding Acute Bronchitis: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Question
I started with post nasal drip/mild cough six days ago. By Thursday, I had a temp (100), exhausted and worsening cough despite doing nasal washes and mucinex D, nasonex and cough medicine.

I went to the doctor today and was dx with bronchitis. I went to a walk in facility as my regular doctor is not available on Sunays.  I was coughing a lot and the doctor heard crackling. Spirometry was 310, chest xray (no pneumonia) temp around 99.5.  I was given a cortisone shot to reduce bronchiospasms and given an RX for antibiotics and for short burst prednisone. I asked the doctor if antibiotics are really necessary and made it clear that I only want to use them when absolutely necessary. The doctor said that acute bronchitis is often caused by viruses and that there is pneumonia going around so he wants me to take the antibiotics.  I have no other health issues.  The doctor never took a culture to test to determine if bacteria was present.  I was under the impression that accute bronchitis is usually viral in nature and does not respond to antibiotics.  I have not taken the antibiotics yet because I question whether using them is indicated.  The doctor also put me on a short burst prednisone for bronchiospasms.

Are antibiotics indicated for acute bronchitis because pneumonia is going around?

Is a short burst of prednisone indicated?

Answer
There is no way of knowing whether there is a bacterial component to the infection except in retrospect.... you are right, these bronchitis syndromes start as virus' but sometimes there are secondary infections....  If someone remains sick for 7-10 days, I often cover with antibiotics "just in case" although there is no definite science behind it......   

I would take the prednisone..... it helps in this setting......