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Published on: August 30, 2018
Antimicrobial usage in paediatric intensive care units in China
Hui Ding1, Yonghong Yang, Yuan Chen
1Beijing Children's Hospital, Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100045, China.
Antimicrobial use in Chinese pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is widespread, with third-generation cephalosporins being most common. Irrational prescribing necessitates guidance by bacterial susceptibility testing to combat drug resistance.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Intensive Care
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global health concern.
- Understanding current antimicrobial prescribing patterns in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) is crucial for effective stewardship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antimicrobial usage patterns in Chinese PICUs.
- To identify common antimicrobial agents and pathogens.
- To assess antimicrobial resistance in key bacterial isolates.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of 540 patients in three tertiary children's hospitals in China.
- Data collection included demographics, clinical information, antimicrobial use, and microbiological results.
- Analysis of antimicrobial prescribing trends and bacterial resistance rates.
Main Results:
- A high rate of antimicrobial use (94.7%) was observed in PICU patients.
- Empirical treatment was initiated in 71.6% of cases.
- Third-generation cephalosporins were the most frequently used antimicrobials (31%).
- High resistance rates of Escherichia coli to cefotaxime were noted (up to 73.8%).
Conclusions:
- Irrational antimicrobial use is prevalent in Chinese PICUs.
- Antimicrobial prescribing should be guided by local bacterial isolation and susceptibility data.
- Implementing evidence-based guidelines can help prevent the emergence of drug-resistant strains.
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