Antibiotics for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Ambulatory Practice in the United States, 1997-1999: Does Physician Specialty Matter?

Abstract

Despite a downward trend in antibiotic prescribing over the years, overprescription of antibiotics for upper respiratory infections persists. General internal medicine physicians are less likely than general/family physicians to prescribe antibiotics, but this gap seems to be narrowing. Specific interventions must be designed to address these disparities.