Antibiotic Prescribing for Sore Throats Persists

From 1993 to 2000, antibiotic prescribing for sore throats dropped from about 70% to about 60% (NEJM JW Gen Med Oct 5 2001). Boston investigators used two national ambulatory care databases to assess antibiotic use in 8191 ambulatory visits by adults to primary care practices and emergency departments for throat pain between 1997 and 2010.

The overall rate of antibiotic prescribing during the study was 60% (61% in primary care practices and 55% in emergency departments). In 2010, penicillin was given to 6% of patients, amoxicillin was prescribed for 19%, azithromycin was given to 15%, and nonrecommended antibiotics (e.g., cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones) were prescribed for 14%.