Antibiotic Prescribing Practices

Antibiotic prescribing practices involve carefully determining when and how to use antibiotics to treat bacterial infections. Healthcare professionals assess if an infection is bacterial (which antibiotics can target) or viral (which antibiotics cannot). Prescribing antibiotics appropriately helps ensure effective treatment, minimizes side effects, and reduces the risk of antibiotic resistance—where bacteria evolve to resist medications, making infections harder to treat in the future. Good stewardship involves prescribing antibiotics only when necessary, choosing the right type, dose, and duration to protect individual health and public safety.