The majority of antibiotic prescriptions for US seniors and Black and Hispanic Americans are inappropriate, according to findings presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases. Kelly R. Reveles, PharmD, PhD, BCPS, and colleagues analyzed data on more than 7 billion outpatient visits to doctors’ offices, hospital clinics, and EDs in the US during 2009-2016, and nearly 8 million visits (11%) led to antibiotic prescriptions. Antibiotic prescribing rates were highest in Black and Hispanic patients (122 and 139 prescriptions per 1,000 visits, respectively), and were also high in patients younger than 18 and females (114 and 170 prescriptions per 1,000 visits, respectively). In all, 64% of antibiotic prescriptions for Black patients, 58% of those for Hispanic patients, 74% of those for people aged 65 and older, and 58% of those for males were inappropriate.
