Study finds overprescribing of antibiotics to COVID-19 patients

More than half of Michigan patients hospitalized with suspected COVID-19 received antibiotics, even though fewer than 4% of those patients had bacterial infections. The findings, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, were based on data from a random sample of 1,705 patients receiving care at 38 Michigan hospitals from mid-March to mid-June. The just-in-case prescribing varied widely among hospitals. It dropped as COVID-19 test turnaround time improved, suggesting rapid testing may be key to improving antibiotic stewardship during the pandemic. The Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovations at the University of Michigan conducted the study. (IHPI news release, 8/26/20)