Inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics in non-hospitalized children led to at least $74 million in excess healthcare costs in 2017, a new study found.
The study, conducted by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Pew Charitable Trusts, looked at private insurance claims data on 2.8 million children. They were diagnosed for several common bacterial and viral infections between April 2016 and Sept. 2018. Children who were prescribed unnecessary antibiotics in outpatient care were also found to be up to eight times more likely to develop complications, some of which can be deadly.
