Online Program

295077
Factors associated with use of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 2:50 p.m. - 3:10 p.m.

Rebecca Roberts, MS, Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work, P3S Corporation/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Antimicrobial resistance among respiratory pathogens has become a common clinical problem and is a major threat to public health worldwide. Although there are multiple causes, unnecessary use of antibiotics for acute upper respiratory infections is one of the forces driving emergence of drug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Upper respiratory infections account for three quarters of all antibiotics prescribed by office-based physicians. There are many patient and physician level factors associated with the unnecessary use of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections. Though prescribing rates have decreased, current data suggest that, for all ages combined, more than ten million courses of antibiotics are prescribed each year for viral conditions that do not benefit from antibiotics.

Learning Areas:

Administration, management, leadership
Epidemiology
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Protection of the public in relation to communicable diseases including prevention or control
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the problem of antibiotic resistance and the relationship between antibiotic use and resistance. Discuss patterns in antibiotic prescribing and the provider and patient beliefs contributing to antibiotic misuse.

Keyword(s): Antibiotic Resistance, Community Health Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Engaged in Get Smart Know when Antibiotics Work Program at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Serves as a CDC liaison for state-based partners involved in implementation and evaluation of Get Smart activities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.