ABX

Medical abbreviation · Drug

ABX
Stands forAntibiotics
CategoriesMedical

ABX stands for Antibiotics, a drug abbreviation.

Charting shorthand for antibiotics in general, as in "start abx", "on abx day 3" or "abx allergy". It is used throughout medicine and nursing, usually in lowercase in progress notes.

Example: Febrile, WBC 18: blood cultures x 2 then broad-spectrum abx within the hour.

Usage notes

Pronounced as the letters or as "antibiotics". Antimicrobial stewardship programs aim to reduce unnecessary use; the CDC estimates that about 30 percent of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions in the US are unnecessary. Related shorthand includes "IV abx" and "PO abx". Antibiotics treat bacteria, not viruses such as colds and flu.

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Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.