Key Quality Measures – Appropriate URI Treatment
Most upper respiratory infections (URI), also known as the common cold, are caused by viruses that require no antibiotic treatment. Too often, antibiotics are prescribed inappropriately, which can lead to antibiotic resistance. Pediatric ambulatory visits to physicians account for nearly 50 million antibiotic prescriptions annually in the United States. A portion of these visits result in inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions.
How are we doing?
We track the percentage of children 3 months to 18 years of age who were diagnosed with upper respiratory infection and not prescribed antibiotics for it.