Can Urgent Care Prescribe Antibiotics?

When you’re not feeling well, you want relief fast. For conditions that require prompt attention but aren’t life-threatening and don’t necessitate a trip to the emergency room, an urgent care center can be an excellent choice. If you need to visit one, you may wonder: Can urgent care providers prescribe antibiotics?

The short answer is yes. Urgent care centers are staffed by licensed medical professionals who can diagnose illnesses and prescribe necessary medications, including antibiotics. However, a prescription is not always guaranteed. A provider’s decision to prescribe an antibiotic depends on the nature of your illness.

Read on to learn more.

When Antibiotics Are the Right Treatment

Antibiotics are medications designed to fight bacterial infections. They work by killing bacteria or stopping them from multiplying. They are the correct treatment for many common conditions that bring people to urgent care.

Before prescribing any treatment, a provider will perform a thorough evaluation, which may include a physical exam and lab tests, to determine if your illness is caused by bacteria. If it is, an antibiotic is an effective tool.

Bacterial infections that may require antibiotics include:

• Strep throat
• Urinary tract infections
• Some ear infections
• Certain skin infections
• Bacterial sinus infections

It’s crucial to understand that antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Viral illnesses, such as the common cold, the flu and most sore throats, will not improve with antibiotics. Consequently, providers don’t prescribe antibiotics for those types of illnesses.

Why Providers Are Cautious With Prescriptions

You may visit an urgent care center convinced you need an antibiotic, only to have the provider recommend other treatments. This isn't to deny you care but to protect your health and the effectiveness of these crucial medicines.

The primary reason for caution is antibiotic resistance, a significant concern for healthcare providers and patients worldwide. When antibiotics are overused or used incorrectly, bacteria can adapt and develop resistance to them. These “superbugs” are much harder to treat. Prescribing antibiotics only when needed helps ensure they’ll work for you and others in the future.

For the same reason, it’s crucial that you take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed. Stopping treatment because you feel better, even though medication remains, increases the risk that the bacteria won’t be fully eradicated and the likelihood of them becoming antibiotic-resistant.

Additionally, providers are cautious with their prescriptions because antibiotics can have unwanted side effects. Like any drug, antibiotics can cause issues such as rashes, nausea and diarrhea. Using them when they are not needed exposes you to these potential side effects without any of the benefits.

What To Expect at Your Urgent Care Visit

When you visit a Baptist Health urgent care center for an illness, the medical team’s goal is to provide the most appropriate and effective treatment. They’ll assess your symptoms and may run tests, such as a rapid strep test, to make an accurate diagnosis.

If they prescribe an antibiotic, it’s vital that you take the full course as directed. If they determine your illness is viral, they’ll recommend the best ways to manage your symptoms while the virus runs its course, such as rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications.

For convenient care, you can check in online before your visit, find a Baptist Health urgent care center near you, or schedule a video visit.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Learn More About Urgent Care at Baptist Health
Does Urgent Care Do Stitches?
Urgent Care for Minor Illnesses
Benefits of Urgent Care Centers
From Primary Care to the ER: Understanding Your Options