The Question
Each year,there is a spike in antibiotic prescribing during flu season, even whenpatients do not have bacterial infections. How can unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions be reduced and antibioticresistance be controlled?
What we found
By boostingrates of flu vaccinations and educating the public about the dangers ofinappropriate antibiotic use, the U.S. could reduce the amount of unnecessaryprescriptions during flu season.
Why it matters
Overprescribingantibiotics leads to increased resistance. Curbing unnecessary use of antibiotics during flu season will helppreserve these life-saving drugs.
