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[Collateral damage of cephalosporins and quinolones and possibilities for control]

Fuat H Saner1, Ali Canbay, Guido Gerken

  • 1Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen, Germany. fuat.saner@uni-due.de

Medizinische Klinik (Munich, Germany : 1983)
|February 27, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Extended use of broad-spectrum antibiotics increases multidrug-resistant microorganisms, leading to patient collateral damage. Limiting antibiotic use to one week is crucial for infection guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • The prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics contributes to the rise of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs).
  • This phenomenon, termed collateral damage, can lead to patient colonization and infection.
  • Different antibiotic classes pose varying risks for collateral damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the risk of collateral damage associated with different antibiotic classes.
  • To highlight the link between antibiotic use and the emergence of specific MDROs.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on antibiotic use and MDROs.
  • Analysis of associations between specific antibiotic classes and subsequent infections.

Main Results:

  • Cephalosporins are linked to vancomycin-resistant enterococci, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, beta-lactam-resistant Acinetobacter species, and Clostridium difficile.
  • Quinolones are associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and increased resistance in gram-negative bacilli like Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Conclusions:

  • Strict adherence to antibiotic indications and time-limited prescriptions (e.g., one week) is essential.
  • Following established infection guidelines can help mitigate the occurrence of MDROs.

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