Avoidable Antibiotic Exposure for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

In a retrospective analysis, therapy for at least 10 days was the most common reason for avoidable antibiotic use.

Antibiotics for cellulitis and cutaneous abscesses are among the most common outpatient prescriptions. Avoiding unnecessary antibiotic use is a critical component in efforts to prevent increasing antimicrobial resistance and to improve patient safety. However, little is known about current outpatient prescribing practices for skin and soft tissue infections.

In previous work, researchers in Colorado demonstrated that overly broad-spectrum antibiotics with prolonged courses were being prescribed for the in-hospital management of patients with cellulitis and cutaneous abscess. Now, they have extended their investigation to examine practices in a large ambulatory care system.

The study involved a retrospective cohort of 364 patients with a prima…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Neil M. Ampel, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesCoccidioidomycosis Study Group (Past President, Secretary, Treasurer)

Avoidable Antibiotic Exposure for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections

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Reviewing Author