Be Antibiotics Aware: Protect your patient

Each year, the CDC encourages healthcare professionals, patients, and families to learn more about antibiotics by promoting U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week (USAAW). Highlighting the importance of improving antibiotic prescribing and use, USAAW brings these lifesaving drugs to the forefront.

 

With a focus on helping to fight antibiotic resistance, USAAW asks you to Be Antibiotic Aware¹ and share this information with your patients:

1. Antibiotics can save lives. When a patient needs antibiotics, the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects or antibiotic resistance.
2. Antibiotics aren’t always the answe Everyone can help improve antibiotic prescribing and use.
3. Antibiotics do not work on viruses, such as those that cause colds, flu, bronchitis, or runny noses.
4. Antibiotics are only needed for treating infections caused by bacteria, but even some bacterial infections get better without antibiotics, including many sinus infections and some ear infections.
5. Antibiotics will not make patient’s feel better if the illness is a virus. Respiratory viruses usually go away in a week or two without treatment.
6. If antibiotics are needed, they should be taken exactly as prescribed. Provide information about potential side effects, including those that could result in treatment.
7. Antibiotics are critical tools for treating life-threatening conditions.

 

Each year in the United States, more than 2.8 million infections occur from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. More than 35,000 people die as a result.

 

Measure up: Avoidance of Antibiotic Treatment for Acute Bronchitis/Bronchiolitis (AAB)

This HEDIS_® measure looks at the percentage of members ages 3 months and older with a diagnosis of acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis that did not result in an antibiotic dispensing event. Visit the NCQA website for exceptions.

 

Description	CPT®/HCPCS/ICD-10
Acute Bronchitis	ICD-10: J20.3, J20.4, J20.5, J20.6, J20.7, J20.8, J20.9, J121.0, J21.1, J21.8, J21.9
Online assessments	CPT: 98970, 98971, 98972, 99422, 99423, 99457 HCPCS: G0071, G2010, G2012, G2061, G2062, G2063
Telephone visits	CPT: 98966, 98967, 98968, 99441, 99442, 99443

 

To learn more about antibiotic prescribing and use, visit www.cdc.gov/antibioticuse.

 

HEDIS® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

 

¹CDC www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use

 

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