Prescription of Antibiotics for Long-Term Residents of Nursing Homes

In a retrospective cohort study from 2013 through 2017, two thirds of residents received at least one antibiotic, most often a fluoroquinolone.

Antibiotics are the most commonly prescribed medications among nursing home (NH) residents, but their use is often unnecessary and may lead to a variety of complications. Accurate and timely estimates of antibiotic use among NH residents would help guide antibiotic stewardship interventions. Investigators calculated prevalence of antibiotic use, rate of prescribing, and days of therapy (DOT) in a longitudinal retrospective cohort study among >1,375,000 long-stay NH residents from 2013 through 2017 who were Medicare beneficiaries.

Within this cohort, 66% had at least one antibiotic prescribed during their NH stay. Median number of antibiotics dispensed was 2 (range, 0–5), median DOT was 10 (range, 0–27), and median duration of NH residence wa…

Reviewing Author

Neil M. Ampel, MD

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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)

Prescription of Antibiotics for Long-Term Residents of Nursing Homes

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Reviewing Author