This statistic depicts the percentage of prescriptions for antibiotics in the United States that were necessary or unnecessary in 2015. Some 30 percent of prescriptions for antibiotics were unnecessary. According to the National Action Plan to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB), the national goal is to reduce inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use by 50 percent until 2022.
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CDC. (October 31, 2017). Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015* [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 19, 2026, from /statistics/861304/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us/
CDC. "Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015*." Chart. October 31, 2017. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 19, 2026. /statistics/861304/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us/
CDC. (2017). Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015*. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 19, 2026. /statistics/861304/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us/
CDC. "Percentage of Antibiotic Prescriptions in The United States That Were Unnecessary in 2015*." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 31 Oct 2017, /statistics/861304/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us/
CDC, Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015* ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/861304/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us/ (last visited July 19, 2026)
Percentage of antibiotic prescriptions in the United States that were unnecessary in 2015* [Graph], CDC, October 31, 2017. [Online]. Available: /statistics/861304/unnecessary-antibiotic-prescriptions-us/