--- title: "Study: A Quarter of Antibiotic Prescriptions in the U.S. Are Unnecessary" description: "A new study found that 23.2 percent of antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. were for illnesses that don't require any antibacterial treatment at all." date: "2019-01-19" modified: "2019-01-19" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/neoscope/antibiotic-prescriptions-unnecessary" categories: - "Health & Medicine" tags: - "antibacterial" - "antibacterial resistance" - "antibiotic" - "the digest" --- # Study: A Quarter of Antibiotic Prescriptions in the U.S. Are Unnecessary ![A new study found that 23.2 percent of antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. were for illnesses that don't require any antibacterial treatment at all.]() *\Image: Victor Tangermann\* ## Resisting the Resistance The CDC calls [antibiotic resistance]() one of the "biggest public health challenges of our time," estimating that about 2 million people in the U.S. alone get an antibiotic-resistant infection. And that has a lot do with the [overprescribing](), and overuse of antibiotic medicines. But have we finally learned our lesson? A [new study]() published in the *British Medical Journal* found that out of roughly 15.5 million antibiotic prescriptions in the U.S. in 2016, 23.2 percent were for illnesses that normally don't require any antibacterial treatment at all. Most shockingly, 28.5 percent of the prescriptions had no associated recent diagnosis at all. https://youtu.be/u1RDHZ-XJJ4 ## Always, Sometimes, Never The authors of the study divided all cases into three different categories: cases where antibiotics should always, sometimes, or never be used. For instance, tonsillitis is almost always treated with antibiotics, while asthma (by itself) should never require an antibiotic prescription. Of course, the way these illnesses are classified will vary, and the researchers note that findings may not generalize to publicly insured or out-of-pocket paying patients in the U.S. — their sample of prescriptions only included privately insured patients. ## A Worrying Trend But it does illustrate a worrying trend: too many prescriptions of antibacterial medications could result in antibiotic resistance — essentially make bacteria much harder to kill. And it's a common problem. So common, scientists even found [antibiotic-resistant bacteria]() on board the International Space Station back in November. Although, whether nor not they could pose a threat to human health is still unclear. But researchers are paying attention. It's evidently an important issue to keep an eye on, and the authors of the study are hoping their methodology could help others identify a solution. **READ MORE:** [One-quarter of antibiotic prescriptions aren’t necessary]() \[*Popular Science*\] ***More on antibiotics: [Researchers Repurposed CRISPR to Help Develop Better Antibiotics]()*** ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()