Experience of European intensive care physicians with infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria, 2009

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine
• Microbiology

Background:

• Antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives is crucial for developing effective antimicrobial stewardship strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess European intensive care physicians' perceptions and experiences with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
• To identify the most prevalent antibiotic-resistant bacteria encountered in ICUs.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among 95 European intensive care physicians.
• Participants reported their experiences with specific antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Main Results:

• 82% of physicians consider antibiotic-resistant bacteria a major or significant problem in their ICUs.
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae were most frequently reported.
• Antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria were reported more often than Gram-positive bacteria, except for MRSA.
• 53% of physicians treated patients with highly resistant bacterial infections in the past six months.

Conclusions:

• Antibiotic resistance is a significant concern for European ICU physicians.
• There is a high prevalence of MRSA and resistant Enterobacteriaceae, alongside increasing challenges with multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.
• Urgent strategies are needed to combat the growing threat of antibiotic resistance in critical care settings.