The antibiotic that has the highest rate of severe allergic reaction is penicillin as well as related beta-lactam antibiotics such as cephalosporins which can cause severe allergic reactions such as anaphylaxis.
And although penicillin and cephalosporins are the most common culprits in severe allergic reactions, other antibiotics such as sulfonamides and fluroquinolones can also cause severe allergic reactions.
Although anaphylaxis to sulfonamides and trimethoprim as well as microlides are rare.
And vancomycin can also cause red man syndrome that is a reaction that causes flushing and pruritus and in rare cases lead to more severe reactions.
The most overused antibiotic is azithromycin as well as amoxicillin.
The antibiotics, amoxicillin and azithromycin are prescribed frequently and especially in outpatient settings, with a significant portion of the prescriptions for amoxicillin and azithromycin being unnecessary.
The majority of antibiotic use and costs occur in outpatient settings, in which doctors and emergency departments will prescribe a large number or amount of antibiotics.
A substantial percentage of antibiotic prescriptions are not needed and highlights the issue of overuse of those antibiotics.
The overuse of antibiotics can also lead to the development of antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance is where the bacteria becomes resistant to the effects of the antibiotics which means they won't work as they should to get rid of the bacterial infection.
Other antibiotics that are also overused are fluroquinolones, cephalexin and clavulanate potassium.
Antibiotics should be used appropriately and only when needed.