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Antibiotic Prescribing and Use in Doctor’s Offices
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    Antibiotics are needed for certain infections caused by bacteria. Antibiotics do not work on viruses.

    Do I really need antibiotics?image icon

    Side effects of antibiotics include rash, dizziness, nausea, yeast infections, and diarrhea, such as C. diff, a severe and life-threatening diarrhea.

    Do antibiotics have side effects?image icon

    Respiratory infections caused by viruses usually go away in a week or two without treatment or antibiotics.

    Can I feel better without antibiotics?image icon

    Antibiotic resistance happens when antibiotics kill bacteria that causes illness and also kill good bacteria that protects the body from infection.

    How Antibiotic Resistance Happensimage icon

    Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria no longer respond to the drugs designed to kill them.

    What are antibiotic-resistant bacteria?image icon

    It is estimated that each year in the United States, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur, and more than 35,000 people die as a result.

    Estimated Number of Infections and Deaths Caused Annually in the U.S. by Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteriaimage icon

    6 Smart Facts About Antibiotic Use

    6 Smart Facts About Antibiotic Useimage icon

    Antibiotic Development is Dwindling

    Antibiotic Development Is Dwindlingimage icon

    Evaluate Patients for penicillin allergy

    Healthcare Providers: Evaluate Patients for Penicillin Allergy to Give the Best Careimage icon

    Patients: Do you have a penicillin allergy?

    Patients: Do You Have A Penicillin Allergy?image icon

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    Page last reviewed: February 6, 2020
    Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
    home Appropriate Antibiotic Use: Community
    • Aboutplus icon
      • Antibiotic Use Q&As
      • Antibiotic Do’s & Don’ts
      • Antibiotic Resistance Q&As
      • Antibiotics Quiz
    • For Patientsplus icon
      • Common Illnessesplus icon
        • Chest Cold (Acute Bronchitis)
        • Common Cold
        • Ear Infection
        • Flu (Influenza)
        • Sinus Infection (Sinusitis)
        • Skin Infections
        • Sore Throat
        • Urinary Tract Infection
    • For Healthcare Professionalsplus icon
      • Outpatient Healthcare Professionalsplus icon
        • Adult Treatment Recommendations
        • Pediatric Treatment Recommendations
      • Is it Really a Penicillin Allergy?
      • Inpatient Healthcare Professionals
      • Community Pharmacists
      • Continuing Education & Informational Resources
    • Improving Prescribingplus icon
      • Measuring Outpatient Antibiotic Prescribingplus icon
        • Annual Report 2011
        • Annual Report 2012
        • Annual Report 2013
        • Annual Report 2014
        • Annual Report, 2015
        • Annual Report, 2016
        • Annual Report, 2017
        • Annual Report, 2018
      • Tracking Antibiotic-Resistant Infections
      • Core Elements of Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship
      • Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship
      • Evidence Supporting the Core Elementsplus icon
        • Systematic Reviews
        • Commitment
        • Action
        • Tracking and Reporting
        • Evidence that Educational Efforts Improve Antibiotic Use
    • State, National, and International Effortsplus icon
      • State and Local Effortsplus icon
        • State Efforts
        • Antibiotic Stewardship Implementation Resources for States
        • Related Programs
      • International Efforts
    • Partnersplus icon
      • Partner Activities
      • Why and How to Become a Partner
      • Joint Statement Outpatient Antibiotic Stewardship
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    • Appropriate Antibiotic Use: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm
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