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Table 1 Antibiotic prescribing in the United States, 2000 and 2010

From: Outpatient antibiotic prescribing in the United States: 2000 to 2010

Antibiotic prescription rates (per 1,000 persons)a

2000

2010

Risk ratio (95%CI)

Overall antibiotics

   

United States population

379

386

1.02 (0.88 to 1.17)

Children and adolescents (<18)

506

416

0.82 (0.72 to 0.94)

 0 to 4

776

562

0.72 (0.65 to 0.81)

 5 to 17

405

358

0.88 (0.77 to 1.02)

Adults (18 to 64)

328

354

1.08 (0.93 to 1.26)

 18 to 49

317

329

1.04 (0.89 to 1.21)

 50 to 64

368

410

1.11 (0.97 to 1.28)

Older adults (≥65)

369

480

1.30 (1.14 to 1.49)

 65 to 79

405

473

1.17 (1.02 to 1.33)

 ≥80

254

498

1.96 (1.69 to 2.28)

Broad-spectrum antibiotics b

   

United States population

223

471

2.11 (1.81 to 2.47)

Children and adolescents (<18)

223

400

1.79 (1.52 to 2.11)

 0 to 4

268

400

1.49 (1.28 to 1.74)

 5 to 17

191

400

2.09 (1.76 to 2.49)

Adults (18 to 64)

205

499

2.43 (2.07 to 2.86)

 18 to 49

194

499

2.57 (2.18 to 3.04)

 50 to 64

237

499

2.11 (1.80 to 2.46)

Older adults (≥65)

287

482

1.68 (1.45 to 1.94)

 65 to 79

293

489

1.67 (1.44 to 1.93)

 ≥80

260

466

1.79 (1.54 to 2.09)

Antibiotics for ARTIs c

   

United States population

175

102

0.58 (0.46 to 0.74)

Children and adolescents (<18)

326

139

0.43 (0.35 to 0.52)

 0 to 4

268

138

0.51 (0.41 to 0.63)

 5 to 17

352

139

0.40 (0.33 to 0.48)

Adults (18 to 64)

151

94

0.62 (0.48 to 0.80)

 18 to 49

171

97

0.57 (0.44 to 0.73)

 50 to 64

104

87

0.83 (0.63 to 1.11)

Older adults (≥65)

74

69

0.94 (0.67 to 1.30)

 65 to 79

79

80

1.01 (0.74 to 1.37)

 ≥80

58

41

0.72 (0.58 to 1.07)

  1. aMEPS population estimates in 2000: 36,053,864 (0 to 17 years of age); 106,057,609 (0 to 64 years of age); 29,706,554 (>65 years and older). MEPS population estimates in 2010: 74,834,192 (0 to 17 years of age); 192,582,188 (0 to 64 years of age); 41,157,595 (>65 years and older); bbroad-spectrum antibiotics are defined per the National Committee for Quality Assurance which includes azithromycin, clarithromycin, fluoroquinolones, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and second- and third-generation cephalosporins; cARTIs include the following ICD-9-CM codes: bronchitis, 466 and 490; pharyngitis, 034, 462 and 463; sinusitis, 461 and 473; acute nasopharyngitis and upper respiratory tract infection, 460 and 465; and influenza, 480, 487 and 488. ARTIs, acute respiratory tract infections; MEPS, Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval.