Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 14, 2025
Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
Published on: August 30, 2018
Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Use in Four Tertiary Care Hospitals in Mexico
Federico A Zumaya-Estrada1, Alfredo Ponce-de-León-Garduño2, Edgar Ortiz-Brizuela2
1Center for Infectious Diseases Research (CISEI), National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Cuernavaca, C.P. 62100, Morelos, México.
Purpose:
To describe the antimicrobial use in four tertiary care hospitals in Mexico.
Patients And Methods:
Point prevalence surveys (PPSs) were conducted on medical records of hospitalized patients with prescribed antimicrobials (AMs) in four tertiary care hospitals in Mexico in 2019. Prevalence estimates and descriptive statistics were used to present the collected data on antimicrobial prescribing and microbiological studies.
Results:
The prevalence of patients with prescribed AMs among the hospitals ranged from 47.1% to 91.3%. Antibiotics for systemic use (J01s) were the most prescribed (84.6%, [95% CI: 81.5-87.3]), mainly extended-spectrum J01s: third-generation cephalosporins 19.8% [95% CI: 16.8-23.1], and carbapenems 17.0% [95% CI: 14.2-20.2]. Antibiotic treatments were largely empirical, with no planned duration or review dates. The ceftriaxone use was excessive and prolonged. No formal reference guidelines for antimicrobial prescribing were available in the hospitals. Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and ESKAPE pathogens were identified in all hospitals.
Conclusion:
This study describes the extensive use of antimicrobials and broad-spectrum antibiotics for systemic use in Mexican hospitals, along with the presence of resistant pathogens to the antibiotics frequently used in the hospitals surveyed.
Insights
This study found extensive antimicrobial use in Mexican hospitals, with a high prevalence of broad-spectrum antibiotics prescribed empirically. Multidrug-resistant pathogens were common, highlighting a critical need for antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Pharmacy
- Public Health
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis.
- Understanding antimicrobial prescribing patterns is crucial for effective AMR containment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe antimicrobial utilization in four tertiary care hospitals in Mexico.
- To assess prescribing practices and identify associated challenges.
Main Methods:
- Point prevalence surveys (PPSs) were conducted in 2019.
- Medical records of hospitalized patients with prescribed antimicrobials were analyzed.
- Descriptive statistics were used to present prescribing data.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of antimicrobial use ranged from 47.1% to 91.3%.
- Systemic antibiotics (J01s), particularly extended-spectrum agents, were most prescribed (84.6%).
- Empirical treatments, excessive ceftriaxone use, and lack of guidelines were noted, alongside multidrug-resistant organisms.
Conclusions:
- Mexican hospitals exhibit extensive antimicrobial use, favoring broad-spectrum agents.
- The frequent use of certain antibiotics correlates with the presence of resistant pathogens.
- Urgent implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs is recommended.
More Related Videos
09:59Application of the Intelligent High-Throughput Antimicrobial Sensitivity Testing/Phage Screening System and Lar Index of Antimicrobial Resistance
Published on: July 21, 2023
08:33Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Analyses of Murine Intestinal Microbiota After Oral Antibiotic Treatment
Published on: November 17, 2018
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:28Antimicrobial Effectiveness
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:16Treating Helicobacter pylori in Peptic Ulcers: Antimicrobial Therapy
00:57Antibiotic Selection