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A Neonatal Imaging Model of Gram-Negative Bacterial Sepsis
Published on: August 12, 2020
Secular trends in antibiotic use among neonates: 2001-2008
Walter Zingg1, Riccardo Pfister, Klara M Posfay-Barbe
1Infection Control Program, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
|November 25, 2010
Summary
Implementing an antibiotic stewardship policy in a neonatal intensive care unit reduced antibiotic use by 2.8% annually. This strategy successfully decreased antibiotic consumption without increasing neonatal mortality rates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Limited data exist on antibiotic consumption trends in neonates.
- Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern in neonatal intensive care units.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate trends in antibiotic consumption among neonates.
- To assess the impact of an antibiotic stewardship policy on antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance, and patient outcomes.
- To analyze the relationship between antibiotic use and mortality in neonates.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study conducted from 2001 to 2008.
- Implementation of a policy to shorten antibiotic therapy for clinical sepsis and coagulase-negative staphylococci infections.
- Discontinuation of preemptive antibiotic treatment for negative blood cultures.
- Time trend analyses of antibiotic use and mortality.
Main Results:
- Overall antibiotic days of therapy decreased by 2.8% annually (P < 0.001).
- Antibiotic use for infections decreased by 6.5% yearly, while preemptive treatment days increased by 3.4% annually.
- Mean treatment duration for confirmed infections decreased by 2.9% yearly (P < 0.001).
- No significant increase in infection-associated mortality was observed.
Conclusions:
- A policy of shortening antibiotic therapy and reducing preemptive treatment moderately reduced antibiotic use in the neonatal intensive care unit.
- This stewardship approach did not lead to an increase in neonatal mortality.
- Continued monitoring of antibiotic resistance is crucial.
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