The study examined records from more than 200,000 visits to ambulatory care settings between 2007 and 2009.
One-quarter of these broad-spectrum antibiotic prescriptions were ineffective, as 25 percent of patients to whom they were prescribed were infected by a virus rather than bacteria.
The study concluded that this accidental or negligent over-prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics is most likely a contributing factor to the development and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the United States.
More Articles on Quality:
HAI Antibiotic Resistance Higher Than CDC Says, Study Finds
