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. 2021 Sep 1;4(9):e2126114.
doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.26114.

Trends in Outpatient Antibiotic Prescriptions in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

Affiliations

Trends in Outpatient Antibiotic Prescriptions in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020

Deanna J Buehrle et al. JAMA Netw Open. .

Abstract

This cross-sectional study examines the prescription fills of commonly prescribed outpatient antibiotics in the US through the end of 2020.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: Dr Nguyen reported receiving grants from Astellas, Merck, Melinta, and Cidara outside the submitted work and reported serving on advisory boards for Astellas, Merck, the Medicines Company, Scynexis, and Shionogi. Dr Clancy reported receiving grants from Astellas, Merck, Melinta, and Cidara outside the submitted work, serving on advisory boards or consulting for Astellas, Merck, the Medicines Company, Cidara, Scynexis, Shionogi, Qpex, and Needham and Company, and being a speaker at a symposium sponsored by Merck and T2Biosystems. Dr Buehrle reported serving on an advisory board for Shionogi outside the submitted work. No other disclosures were reported.

Figures

Figure.
Figure.. Outpatient Antibiotic Prescription Fills in the United States, January 2015 Through December 2020
Data are for 9 of the 10 most commonly prescribed outpatient antibiotics in the United States, excluding sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (for which complete 2020 data were unavailable). The beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic nationally is taken to be March 2020. Monthly prescription fill data are presented as filled black circles. Prescription fill data are from IQVIA National Prescription Audit databases, which project total retail prescription drug sales using information from over 93% of retail pharmacies in the US. The data include prescriptions for adults or children stemming from encounters in any setting, including in-person and telemedicine visits, and from telephone or electronic communications. Population data are taken from US Census monthly estimates.

References

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