Unnecessary Antibiotic Prescribing in US Ambulatory Care Settings, 2010-2015

The proportion of antibiotic prescriptions prescribed in US physician offices and emergency departments that were unnecessary decreased slightly, from 30% in 2010-2011 to 28% in 2014-2015. However, a greater decrease occurred in children: 32% in 2010-2011 to 19% in 2014-2015. Unnecessary prescribing in adults did not change during this period.

Automated summary

The percentage of unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions in US physician offices and emergency departments decreased slightly from 30% in 2010-2011 to 28% in 2014-2015. However, there was a greater decrease in children from 32% to 19%, while unnecessary prescribing in adults remained unchanged.