What Does ABx Mean in Medical Terms?

ABx stands for antibiotics. Medicines treating bacterial infections.

Where you will see ABx

You will most often see ABx in medication orders and prescriptions, microbiology results and infection-control notes.

Example

A medication order might be written with “ABx” as shorthand for antibiotics.

Related abbreviations

• 14-3-3 — 14-3-3 protein (CSF)
• 3 Cs measles — three Cs of measles (cough coryza conjunctivitis)
• 3% saline — three percent saline (hypertonic)
• 5-FU — fluorouracil
• 6-MP — mercaptopurine
• 6-TG — thioguanine
• 7+3 — seven plus three induction
• a.c. — ante cibum (before meals)

Browse the full Medical Abbreviations guide — 5,715 entries, searchable A–Z and by specialty.