Antibiotic Stewardship Intervention Reduces Inappropriate Prescribing Rates For Bronchitis And Viral Upper Respiratory Infections At Urgent Care Centers, Study Finds

Healio (3/4, Stulpin) reports a study found that “an antibiotic stewardship intervention at urgent care centers was associated with lower rates of inappropriate prescribing for bronchitis and viral upper respiratory infections, although active clinician engagement is necessary.” Researchers concluded, “Antibiotic resistance is a critical and growing public health threat, contributing to millions of deaths globally each year. Our findings suggest that we have effective interventions that can significantly reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing across diverse urgent care settings.” However, they noted “success largely depends on individual provider engagement, emphasizing the need for active participation and commitment at the individual level to drive meaningful change.” The study was published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.