Improving Antibiotic Prescribing Practices in an Urgent Care Clinic

Abstract

Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for viral upper respiratory infections remains a critical concern in outpatient settings, particularly in urgent care clinics. This quality improvement project, implemented in a rural for-profit clinic in Southeast Georgia, explored whether targeted provider and patient education could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. The intervention centered on (1) educating health care providers with evidence-based guidelines and (2) displaying Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–approved patient education posters. Data on antibiotic prescriptions were collected before and after the intervention over matched 3-month periods in 2023 and 2024. Results indicated a decrease from 30% to 16.7% in inappropriate prescribing. Although confounded by factors such as inconsistent provider participation and limited definitive conclusions, the initiative provided valuable insights into the implementation of stewardship in community settings.