title: Treating viral respiratory tract infections with antibiotics in hospitals: no longer a case of mistaken identity.
abstract: Widespread use of antibiotics in hospitalized patients contributes to the development of multidrug resistant organisms that make many infections increasingly difficult to treat. Despite calls to prescribe antibiotics judiciously, many physicians continue to order antibiotics for inpatients who do not need them. This Issue Brief investigates antibiotic use in hospitalized adults with a confirmed viral infection, a group of patients that may not benefit from such therapy. Understanding the factors that lead to inappropriate antibiotic use may help change clinical practice and limit antibiotic resistance.
authors.affiliation: Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, 3641 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Ebbing
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lautenbach
authors.forename: Ingi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kevin T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Shiley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D006801:Humans; D057970:Inappropriate Prescribing; D007297:Inpatients; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents