Antibiotics have transformed modern medicine by making once-life-threatening bacterial infections treatable. But antibiotics don’t work against viruses, and using them when they aren’t needed can contribute to antibiotic resistance, side effects, and other health risks.
Overprescribing antibiotics has become an important public health concern, particularly in outpatient healthcare settings where respiratory illnesses are commonly treated.
Quick answer: Yes, unnecessary antibiotic prescribing still occurs, including in urgent care settings, but it is a healthcare-wide issue rather than one unique to urgent care. Many healthcare organizations now use antibiotic stewardship programs to help ensure antibiotics are prescribed only when the benefits outweigh the risks.
What does overprescribing antibiotics mean?
Overprescribing antibiotics happens when antibiotics are prescribed even though they are unlikely to help.
This can occur when antibiotics are used for:
- Viral colds
- Influenza
- COVID-19
- Most cases of acute bronchitis
- Many sore throats that aren’t caused by bacteria
- Some sinus infections that are likely viral
Antibiotics are designed to treat bacterial infections, not viral illnesses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that at least 28% of antibiotics prescribed in outpatient settings are unnecessary. Reducing inappropriate prescribing is an important part of preventing antibiotic resistance.
Why are antibiotics sometimes overprescribed?
There isn’t a single reason as to why antibiotics are sometimes overprescribed.
Several factors can influence prescribing decisions, including:
- Diagnostic uncertainty early in an illness
- Concern about missing a serious bacterial infection
- Limited opportunities for follow-up
- Time constraints during appointments
- Patient expectations
- Difficulty distinguishing viral from bacterial infections based on symptoms alone
Urgent care clinicians often see patients they may never treat again, which can make follow-up more challenging than in a primary care setting.
That does not mean antibiotics are automatically prescribed. Instead, providers must balance the risk of unnecessary treatment against the possibility of missing a bacterial infection that truly needs antibiotics.
Are urgent care doctors more likely to prescribe antibiotics?
Research has found higher rates of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in some urgent care settings compared with certain other outpatient settings.
However, this does not mean every urgent care clinic or clinician overprescribes antibiotics.
Many urgent care centers now participate in antibiotic stewardship programs that encourage evidence-based prescribing and regular review of prescribing patterns.
The CDC recommends that all outpatient healthcare settings implement antibiotic stewardship strategies to improve prescribing practices.
Why is antibiotic overuse a problem?
Taking antibiotics when they are not needed can have consequences for both individuals and communities.
Possible risks include:
- Antibiotic-resistant infections
- Allergic reactions
- Diarrhea
- Yeast infections
- Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infection
- Disruption of the normal bacteria that live in the body
Antibiotic resistance develops when bacteria evolve in ways that make antibiotics less effective.
According to a report from the CDC in 2019, more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year.
When are antibiotics actually needed?
Antibiotics are appropriate for many bacterial infections.
Examples include:
- Strep throat confirmed by testing
- Many urinary tract infections
- Certain types of bacterial pneumonia
- Some skin infections
- Some bacterial sinus infections
- Certain sexually transmitted infections
Your healthcare provider may recommend additional testing before deciding whether antibiotics are necessary.
The decision depends on your symptoms, medical history, physical examination, and sometimes laboratory results.
What can patients do during an appointment?
One of the best ways to support appropriate antibiotic use is to have an open conversation with your healthcare provider.
Instead of asking specifically for antibiotics, consider asking:
- What do you think is causing my symptoms?
- Do you think this is viral or bacterial?
- Would antibiotics help in my situation?
- What can I do to feel better?
- What symptoms should prompt me to come back?
- How long should I expect this illness to last?
These questions help you understand your diagnosis while giving your provider the opportunity to explain why antibiotics may or may not be appropriate.
What can help if antibiotics aren’t recommended?
Many viral illnesses improve with supportive care rather than antibiotics.
Depending on your symptoms, your healthcare provider may recommend:
- Rest
- Fluids
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen when appropriate
- Saline nasal spray
- Humidified air
- Throat lozenges
- Honey for cough in adults and children over one year old
- Other over-the-counter medications based on your symptoms
Following your provider’s instructions and allowing time for recovery often leads to improvement without antibiotics.
When should you seek medical care again?
Even if antibiotics aren’t recommended initially, your symptoms may change.
Contact a healthcare provider if you develop:
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent high fever
- Chest pain
- Symptoms that significantly worsen
- Illness lasting longer than expected
- New concerning symptoms
Your provider can reassess whether additional evaluation or treatment is needed.
How can Zocdoc help?
Whether you need urgent care, a primary care provider, or a specialist, getting evaluated promptly can help you receive the right treatment.
Zocdoc lets you compare in-network providers, read verified patient reviews, and book appointments online when you need care.
The bottom line
Overprescribing antibiotics is an important healthcare challenge because unnecessary antibiotics contribute to antibiotic resistance and expose patients to avoidable side effects.
The good news is that healthcare providers are increasingly using evidence-based guidelines and antibiotic stewardship programs to improve prescribing decisions.
If your clinician recommends against antibiotics, it doesn’t necessarily mean your symptoms aren’t real or that treatment isn’t needed. It may simply mean that the safest and most effective approach is supportive care while your body recovers.
The best treatment is the one that matches the cause of your illness.
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Frequently asked questions
What is overprescribing antibiotics?
Overprescribing antibiotics means prescribing antibiotics when they are unlikely to benefit the patient, such as for viral infections that do not respond to these medications.
Why is antibiotic overuse dangerous?
Unnecessary antibiotic use can contribute to antibiotic resistance, allergic reactions, digestive problems, yeast infections, and other side effects.
Do antibiotics work for viral infections?
No. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections and do not work against viruses such as influenza, COVID-19, or the common cold.
Why might a doctor not prescribe antibiotics?
A healthcare provider may determine that your illness is likely caused by a virus, meaning antibiotics would not help and could expose you to unnecessary risks.
How can patients help prevent antibiotic resistance?
Take antibiotics only as prescribed, never share leftover antibiotics, avoid requesting antibiotics for viral illnesses, and ask your healthcare provider questions if you are unsure why an antibiotic is or is not recommended.
The information in this article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on as medical advice. It is not intended as, and Zocdoc does not provide, medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Zocdoc does not recommend any specific provider. Find one you’ll love on Zocdoc today.