Assistant Professors Alexander J. Lepak, MD, Lindsay N. Taylor, MD, and their team at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health studied prescribing trends for seasonal respiratory viruses before, during, and after peak periods of COVID-19. The team observed a concomitant 79% decline in ambulatory antibiotic prescribing rates for respiratory tract infections from April 2020 to February 2021. The authors hypothesize this may be because highly accessible, rapid diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses averted unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions.

Alexander J. Lepak, MD, and Lindsay N. Taylor, MD, Assistant Professors at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

JAMA Internal Medicine
June 21, 2021