# Almost 25% of Prescribed Antibiotics Are Unnecessary, Says Study

Published 2019-01-29 · Updated 2026-03-12 · Healthcare on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/healthcare/almost-25-of-prescribed-antibiotics-are-unnecessary-says-study

> A study published in the medical journal The BMJ showed that 23 percent of prescriptions from 2016 in the United States were unnecessary.   The most common conditions that were prescribed such antibiotics included acute bronchitis, upper respiratory infections and coughing. These conditions are caused by viruses — not bacteria — which means that antibiotics are useless…

A study published in the medical journal *The BMJ* showed that 23 percent of prescriptions from 2016 in the United States were unnecessary.

Block Field

The most common conditions that were prescribed such antibiotics included acute bronchitis, upper respiratory infections and coughing. These conditions are caused by viruses — not bacteria — which means that antibiotics are useless in treating them.

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