Responsible for high rate of visits to the emergency room.
CDC suggests that nearly 1 in 5 visits to emergency department for medication are for such events.
Estimated 10.5 emergency visits per 10,000 U.S. prescriptions for antibiotics, generating 142,500 visits annually to emergency departments.
Accounted for 19% of all drug related adverse events seen in emergency departments (Shehab).
CDC estimates that amoxicillin or penicillin result in 15.5 emergency department visits for each 10,000 outpatient prescriptions, and they compared this to high risk medications such as warfarin, insulin and digoxin which resulted in 20.6 visits per 10,000 outpatient prescriptions.
Allergic antibiotic adverse reactions account for nearly 79% of emergency department visits for antibiotic adverse events (CDC).
Of patients presenting to the emergency departments women were twice as likely to have such an event (67% vs. 33%).
Antibiotic overuse is common and can result in clinical and financial consequences.
Overuse of antibiotics associated with unnecessary spending for prescription drugs, and increases the risk for adverse effects and at the microbial resistance.