Study: Many Americans use antibiotics prescribed for others

One factor that may be contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistant infections: Many Americans take antibiotics prescribed for others. According to a scoping review in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the use of antibiotics without a prescription appears to be prevalent in the United States, with studies finding that 14% to 48% of people store antibiotics for future use. People also access antibiotics without a prescription from sources such as flea markets, pet stores and online retailers. The authors based their conclusions on a review of 31 articles related to nonprescription use of antibiotics. (Reuters story, 7/22/19)