In this retrospective cohort study of 5,579 internal medicine inpatients, 1,488 (27%) received a parenteral or oral antibiotic for at least 24 hours. The most common indication for antibiotics was UTI. Adverse events due to antibiotics were captured over the 30-day period after antibiotic initiation, with the exception of Clostridium difficile infection and multi-drug resistant organism infections, which were captured over the ensuing 90 days. Median duration of therapy was 7 days.
Of the patients treated with antibiotics, 19% had no clinical indication for antibiotic therapy, and 20% developed at least one associated adverse event. The breakdown of adverse events is shown in the visual abstract below (note: for this analysis, I combined the 30- and 90-day outcomes).
We are becoming more cognizant that antibiotics are not benign therapies. Kudos to Sara and her colleagues for their work in raising our awareness.
