Abstract: Estimating the magnitude and cost of antibiotic overuse in outpatient settings, and identifying the conditions responsible for the bulk of overuse, must guide interventions and policy decisions. Data from the 1998 National Survey of Ambulatory Medical Care, a sample survey of ambulatory medical practices in the United States, was used to estimate primary care visits and antibiotic prescription rates for acute respiratory infections. The weight-average cost of antibiotics was calculated usingprescription marketing data from 1996 and adjusted for inflation. In 1998, approximately 76 million physician visits for acute respiratory infections resulted in 41 million antibiotic prescriptions. Antibiotic prescriptions to treat bacterial infections exceeded the expected number by 55% (22).6 million) of all antibiotics prescribed for acute respiratory infections at a cost of ∼726 million US$. Upper respiratory tract infections (unspecified), pharyngitis and bronchitis were the conditions associated with the highest overuse. This study documents that the magnitude and cost of antibiotic overuse in acute respiratory infections by primary care physicians is significant and establishes potential target antibiotic treatment rates forselected conditions.
Keywords: respiratory infections, antibiotics and treatment.
Title: Correspondence study on the overuse of antibiotics in the treatment of acute respiratory infections in the United States
Author: Hessa meqad alsubaie, Nujud Mesfer Almalki, Abdulaziz saud alzeer, Abdulaziz Abdullah almutairi, Naif Mohammed Alanazi
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Vol. 11, Issue 1, April 2023 - September 2023
Page No: 39-44
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 02-June-2023
