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

By Sciences · Published 2019-01-29 · Updated 2026-04-03 · Sciences on MarketScale
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> 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…

## Key points

- 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.

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