Non-Interventional Monitoring on Antibiotic Consumption in a Critical Care Setting: A Three-Year Comparative Analysis

Background/Objectives: Hospitals are environments where care-related infections (HAIs) can occur, including those caused by resistant microorganisms. In addition, inappropriate use of antibiotics contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a serious public health challenge. As part of the "Choosing Wisely-Italy" initiative, this study complements a previous publication on hand hygiene compliance in an intensive care unit (ICU) by analyzing antibiotic consumption over the same period and comparing it with the previous two years. Methods: A nine-month observational study was carried out from January to September 2018 in the ICU of a university hospital in Salerno province. Antibiotic order forms from the observation period were compared with those from the same months in 2016 and 2017. Glove consumption and costs were also analyzed over the three-year period. Statistical analysis was performed using ORIGIN* and EXCEL* software. Results: Overall antibiotic consumption during the observational period aligned with national averages reported in the National Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (PNCAR). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the presence of regular external monitoring may positively influence antibiotic use and hygiene behavior. Further research is needed to assess the long-term impact of observational interventions on clinical practice and AMR containment.