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Updated: May 11, 2026
11:15
Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations
Published on: July 24, 2021
What ever happened to the common cold? Improving antibiotic utilization.
Mark K Huntington1, Scott VanKeulen, Wendell W Hoffman
1Department of Family Medicine, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, USA.
Summary
Unnecessary antibiotic prescribing for upper respiratory infections incurs significant societal costs due to antibiotic resistance. Algorithms can help clinicians identify patients who truly need antibiotics, avoiding harm to the majority.
Area of Science:
- Internal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Unnecessary antibiotic prescribing leads to antibiotic resistance, adverse drug reactions, and economic costs.
- Much evidence indicates that most outpatient infections can be safely treated without antibiotics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide algorithms for managing upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).
- To assist clinicians in differentiating patients who require antibiotics from those who do not.
Main Methods:
- Development of clinical algorithms for URTIs.
- Focus on distinguishing patients who benefit from antibiotics versus those who may be harmed.
Main Results:
- Algorithms aim to guide judicious antibiotic use in URTIs.
- Identification of patient subgroups that benefit from antibiotic therapy.
Conclusions:
- Judicious antibiotic selection for URTIs is crucial.
- Algorithms can improve clinical decision-making, reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure and associated risks.
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