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Guidelines from the CDC:
Antibiotic use is the most important modifiable driver of antibiotic resistance, and antibiotic-resistant infections lead to higher healthcare costs, poor health outcomes, and more toxic treatments(1).
Over half of antibiotic prescribing in outpatient settings may be inappropriate, and most of this inappropriate use is for acute respiratory infections, such as pharyngitis, sinusitis, or bronchitis(2).
Antibiotics are the most common cause of adverse drug events (ADEs) in children, accounting for 7 of the top 15 drugs leading to pediatric ADE-related emergency room (ER) visits. In adults, ADEs account for 1 out of 5 ADE-related visits to the ER(3, 4).
Harm can be reduced by improving antibiotic prescribing. A 10% decrease in inappropriate prescribing in the community can result in a 17% reduction in Clostridium difficile infection, a severe form of diarrhea usually caused by antibiotic exposure(5).
Clinical practice guidelines for common infections help establish standards of care, focus quality improvement efforts, and improve patient outcomes(6,7).
References
Resources
Adult Outpatient Treatment Recommendations (CDC)
Pediatric Outpatient Treatment Recommendations (CDC)
CDC Factsheet on Appropriate Antibiotic Use
Full CDC Resources for Patients & Healthcare Professionals