Typically, on the subject of antibiotic overprescribing, we think of a harried provider being worn down by a patient or parent of a young patient presenting with a sore throat, bad cold, or earache who insists they need an antibiotic even when it’s not indicated. However, a new article published online by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy reveals that approximately 13% of ambulatory care visits for acute gastroenteritis result in an antibiotic prescription—a rate the authors say is excessively high. Of particular note for urgent care providers, the data quoted from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey reveal that antibiotic prescribing occurs more frequently in office settings than in emergency rooms. The antibiotics most frequently prescribed for gastro complaints were fluoroquinolones (28.7% of prescriptions), nitroimidazoles (20.2%), and penicillins (18.9%). They were prescribed most commonly for Yersinia, Campylobacter, and Shigella. JUCM regularly publishes articles on optimal—and responsible—antibiotic prescribing. You can read each of the following in our archive right now:
- Improving Appropriate Antibiotic Use for Common Clinical Conditions in Urgent Care
- Antibiotic Stewardship in Acute Otitis Media—Pearls and Pitfalls
- Antibiotic Stewardship and Sinusitis: A Quality Improvement Project