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[Impact of fluoroquinolone use on multidrug-resistant bacteria emergence]

S Nseir1, F Ader, C-H Marquette

  • 1Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital A. Calmette, CHRU de Lille, boulevard du Pr-Leclercq, 59037 Lille cedex, France. s-nseir@chru-lille.fr

Pathologie-Biologie
|September 24, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Increased fluoroquinolone use correlates with rising antibiotic resistance, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria. Strategies like limiting use and duration can combat this growing public health threat.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Pharmacology
  • Infectious Diseases

Context:

  • Fluoroquinolone antibiotic usage has substantially risen in Europe and the USA over the past 20 years.
  • This increase is partly attributed to the introduction of newer fluoroquinolones with enhanced antipneumococcal activity.
  • Rising fluoroquinolone consumption is linked to escalating rates of bacterial resistance to these drugs.

Purpose:

  • To analyze the association between increased fluoroquinolone use and the development of antimicrobial resistance.
  • To identify specific bacterial pathogens and resistance mechanisms linked to fluoroquinolone exposure.
  • To explore strategies for mitigating fluoroquinolone resistance and the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Summary:

  • Fluoroquinolone resistance is increasing in Gram-negative bacilli in industrialized nations.
  • Fluoroquinolone use is a risk factor for infections with resistant pathogens like MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, ESBL-producing Gram-negatives, and multidrug-resistant bacteria.
  • Nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria are associated with increased mortality and morbidity, potentially due to inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy.

Impact:

  • Findings highlight the critical need for antimicrobial stewardship programs focused on fluoroquinolones.
  • Recommendations include judicious fluoroquinolone prescribing, limiting treatment duration, and optimizing dosage to preserve antibiotic efficacy.
  • Implementing these strategies can help reduce the incidence of fluoroquinolone resistance and the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.

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