This statistic depicts the percentage of prescriptions for antibiotics in the United States that were unnecessary, for all diagnoses, in 2015, by age. Among those aged 20-64 years, 35 percent of antibiotic prescriptions were unnecessary. According to the National Action Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), the national goal is to reduce inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use by 50 percent until 2022.
Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015, by age*
Age group
Percentage of unnecessary antiobiotic prescriptions
* For all conditions: "All conditions included acute respiratory conditions, urinary tract infections, miscellaneous bacterial infections, and other conditions."
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CDC. (October 31, 2017). Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015, by age* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 03, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/861319/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us-by-age/
CDC. "Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015, by age*." Chart. October 31, 2017. Statista. Accessed December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/861319/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us-by-age/
CDC. (2017). Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015, by age*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 03, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/861319/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us-by-age/
CDC. "Percentage of Antibiotic Prescriptions in The United States That Were Unnecessary in 2015, by Age*." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Oct 2017, https://www.statista.com/statistics/861319/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us-by-age/
CDC, Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015, by age* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/861319/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us-by-age/ (last visited December 03, 2024)
Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015, by age* [Graph], CDC, October 31, 2017. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/861319/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us-by-age/