About 40% of antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. could be inappropriate

A new study says that more than 40% of all prescriptions for antibiotics across the U.S. could be inappropriate. Looking at data from more than 28,000 ambulatory clinic visits in 2015, researchers found that antibiotics were prescribed during roughly 13% of these visits. The scientists deemed only 57% of these prescriptions to be appropriate — in which the billing code specifically mentioned a bacterial infection. The other prescriptions — in which there was no mention of a bacterial disease or it included non-bacterial conditions that are often treated with antibiotics anyway — were deemed inappropriate. Those with chronic conditions such as diabetes were more likely to be prescribed antibiotics inappropriately. Quinolones, a class of antibiotics that includes the popular drug ciprofloxacin, were most likely to be prescribed without a valid reason.