Antibiotics are one of the most commonly prescribed medications in nursing facilities, and overuse of antibiotics is a serious problem— between 25% and 75% of antibiotics prescribed in nursing homes are unnecessary (D’Agata and Mitchell 2008). Overexposure to antibiotics allows drug-resistant strains of bacteria and health care–associated infections to emerge in the nursing facility. When this occurs, it is harder to treat infections, and residents may develop complications. The result is increased resident mortality, hospitalizations, and costs.
Year:
2016
Journal:
American Institutes for Research