Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Using A Delayed Antibiotic-Prescribing Education Intervention To Prevent Antibiotic Overuse In The Treatment Of Respiratory Tract Infections, Catherine L. Muhia

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Background: Antibiotics have been overprescribed to patients with respiratory infection in outpatient clinics in the United States. Antibiotic overuse has led to increased risk for antibiotic resistance and complications related to side effects. A review of the literature suggests that delayed antibiotic prescribing is an effective intervention that can be used to prevent antibiotic overuse. Delayed antibiotic prescribing is an evidence-based strategy where a patient is either issued with an antibiotic prescription and advised to delay filling it or to pick it up at an agreed location only if symptoms persist beyond the expected natural history of illness or deteriorate. …