Sharp Rees-Stealy Quality Measures for Treating Bronchitis With Antibiotics

What was measured?
What percentage of adults who have acute bronchitis were not given an antibiotic — medicines that often don’t work for these short-term bronchial inflammations?

These results are based on patient records from the medical group or HMO.

Why is it important?
Antibiotic medications are often not useful in treating acute bronchitis—an inflammation in the lungs due to infection, smoking or allergies. Typically the cough, mucus and other signs of bronchitis end within two weeks without antibiotics and patients can avoid the side effects of these drugs. The overuse of antibiotics also can reduce the effectiveness of these medications and make them less helpful in fighting harmful bacteria.

Sharp Rees-Stealy Score: 78.51 percent
State Average: 38.56 percent

Information courtesy of the California Office of the Patient Advocate.