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Antibiotic Prescribing and Use
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    Will antibiotics help for these common infections?

    Chest Cold (Acute Bronchitis)

    Cough, mucus

    Common Cold

    Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough

    Ear Infection

    Ear pain, fever

    Flu (Influenza)

    Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches

    Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)

    Headache, stuffy or runny nose, face pain or pressure

    Skin Infections

    Skin redness, swelling of the affected area

    Sore Throat

    Throat pain, hoarseness

    Urinary Tract Infection

    Pain or burning while urinating, frequent urination

    Page last reviewed: October 7, 2021
    Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
    homeAntibiotic Use
    • About Antibiotic Useplus icon
      • Antibiotic Use Q&A
      • Antibiotic Do’s & Don’ts
      • Antibiotic Resistance Q&A
      • Antibiotics Quizplus icon
        • Quiz Question and Answers
    • Patient Resources and Educationplus icon
      • Print Materials
      • Treatment for Common Illnessesplus icon
        • Chest Cold (Acute Bronchitis)
        • Common Cold
        • Ear Infection
        • Flu (Influenza)
        • Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)
        • Skin Infections
        • Sore Throat
        • Urinary Tract Infection
      • Video and Audio
      • Web Images and Graphics
    • Healthcare Professional Resources and Trainingplus icon
      • Educational Resources for Healthcare Professionals
      • CE and Training
      • Treatment Recommendationsplus icon
        • Adult Outpatient Treatment Recommendations
        • Pediatric Outpatient Treatment Recommendations
        • Is It Really a Penicillin Allergy?
    • Health Department Resources
    • Improving Antibiotic Useplus icon
      • Current Stewardship Report
      • Past Stewardship Reportsplus icon
        • 2020 Report
        • 2018 Report
        • 2017 Report
      • Measuring Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribingplus icon
        • Annual Reports, 2011
        • Annual Reports, 2012
        • Annual Reports, 2013
        • Annual Reports, 2014
        • Annual Reports, 2015
        • Annual Reports, 2016
        • Annual Reports, 2017
        • Annual Reports, 2018
        • Annual Reports, 2019
        • Annual Reports, 2020
      • Outpatient Hemodialysis Facilities
      • Tuberculosis (TB), Gonorrhea, and Valley Fever
    • Core Elements of Antibiotic Stewardshipplus icon
      • Hospitalplus icon
        • Implementation Resources for Hospitals
      • Outpatientplus icon
        • Implementation Resources for Outpatient Facilities
      • Nursing Homeplus icon
        • Implementation Resources for Nursing Homes
      • Small and Critical Access Hospitals
      • Resource-Limited Settings
    • U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Weekplus icon
      • Be Antibiotics Aware Partner Toolkitplus icon
        • Graphics & Videos
        • Handouts & Posters
      • Get Involved
      • Related Programs
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