First-Line Antibiotic Selection in Outpatient Settings in the U.S.

Only 50% of U.S. antibiotic prescriptions to outpatients with pharyngitis, sinusitis, or acute otitis media were for first-line recommended agents.

Appropriate antibiotic selection according to current guidelines is a key element of antibiotic stewardship to optimize treatment, minimize adverse effects, and prevent resistance. However, guidelines are often not followed in daily practice. To study the magnitude of this problem, researchers used a commercial database containing U.S. data for the year 2014 on antibiotic prescriptions during ambulatory visits of pediatric (aged <18 years) and adult (aged 18–64) patients with sinusitis and pharyngitis, and pediatric patients with acute otitis media (AOM), to retail clinics (n=13,889 visits), emergency departments (EDs; n=107,820), urgent care facilities (n=474,378), and offices (n=4,268,329).

Overall, only 50% of the prescribed antibiotics w…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

First-Line Antibiotic Selection in Outpatient Settings in the U.S.

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Reviewing Author