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Resistance problems in two university hospitals in Denmark
T G Jensen1, H J Kolmos, K Siboni
1Department of Clinical Microbiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
|July 2, 1999
Summary
Antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was high in Danish hospitals in 1997. However, resistance to newer antibiotics like methicillin and gentamicin remained low, potentially due to limited antibiotic use in Denmark.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Antibiotic resistance poses a significant global health threat.
- Surveillance of bacterial resistance patterns is crucial for effective treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in key bacterial pathogens in Danish university hospitals in 1997.
- To assess resistance to both common and newer antibiotics.
Main Methods:
- Bacterial isolates of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were collected from university hospitals in Odense and Hvidovre in 1997.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed to determine resistance rates to various antibiotics, including penicillin, ampicillin, methicillin, and gentamicin.
Main Results:
- In 1997, high resistance rates were observed: 80-89% of Staphylococcus aureus were resistant to penicillin, and 32-41% of Escherichia coli were resistant to ampicillin.
- Incidences of resistance to methicillin in S. aureus (<1%), penicillin in Streptococcus pneumoniae (3%), and gentamicin in E. coli (2%) were low.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest a high prevalence of resistance to older antibiotics like penicillin and ampicillin in Danish hospitals in 1997.
- Low resistance rates to methicillin and gentamicin may indicate the impact of judicious antibiotic stewardship and potentially lower overall antibiotic consumption in Denmark during that period.