Need an Antibiotic? There's an App for That.

Abstract

* Abbreviations: ARTI — : acute respiratory tract infection DTC — : direct to consumer Antibiotics are the most common medications prescribed to children.1 Acute respiratory tract infections (ARTIs) account for nearly three-fourths of antibiotic prescribing, dominated by syndromes that sometimes warrant antibiotic therapy (such as acute otitis media, acute sinusitis, and pharyngitis) as well as those that do not (such as the common cold, bronchiolitis, and acute bronchitis).2 A large proportion of antibiotic use is inappropriate, either because the wrong drug was given, the drug was prescribed for too long, or the drug should not have been given at all. Each scenario can harm patients through the emergence of antibiotic resistance, adverse drug effects, and disruption of the microbiome. This public health crisis has prompted outpatient antibiotic stewardship interventions, which have been shown to improve prescribing in the primary care setting.3 But there are other ways to get antibiotics. Urgent care and retail clinics have emerged as more convenient options for straightforward acute care, such as for ARTIs. In the era of smartphones, tablets, and high-speed Internet, however, there is an even easier way: direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine. This emerging industry (already with millions of annual consultations) allows 24/7 access to doctors in the comfort of your … Address correspondence to Jeffrey S. Gerber, MD, PhD, Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, Room 10364, 2716 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146. E-mail: gerberj{at}chop.edu