“Older Americans Are Awash in Antibiotics,” by Paula Span, New York Times

“Patients over age 65 have the highest rate of outpatient prescribing of any age group. A new C.D.C. study, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, points out that doctors write enough antibiotic prescriptions annually — nearly 52 million in 2014 — for every older person to get at least one.

Because the researchers used a national pharmacy database that tracked only outpatients, the study likely underestimates the problem.”

LTC Comment (from Stephen A. Moses, President, Center for Long-Term Care Reform):

That’s not the only problem. Our next clipping highlights adverse drug effects on older Americans.