Use of amoxicillin-clavulanate and resistance in Escherichia coli over a 4-year period.
OBJECTIVE
To reduce the use of amoxicillin-clavulanate after high-resistance rates in Escherichia coli were detected.


METHODS
Intervention study; the interventions were introduced successively over a 4-year period while closely monitoring the resistance patterns.


METHODS
A 260-bed acute-care hospital in Switzerland.


METHODS
Introduction of therapeutic guidelines for specific departments or indications, which proposed alternative antibiotics to amoxicillin-clavulanate. The perioperative prophylactic use of amoxicillin-clavulanate was eliminated completely.


RESULTS
The absolute amount of amoxicillin-clavulanate consumed decreased by 23%, from 24.8 g per 100 patient days in 1992 to 18.5 g per 100 patient days in 1995. The number of courses, a parameter that takes the prophylactic use into account, decreased by 62% from 2.3 per 100 patient days in 1992 to 0.9 per 100 patient days in 1995. The percentage of sensitive strains increased from 54.9% (n=512) in 1992 and 54.0% (n=506) in 1993 to 72.1% (n=546) in 1994 and 83.1% (n=668) in 1995. No major changes were detected for other antimicrobials, such as cotrimoxazole, tetracycline, or cefuroxime, used in this 4-year period.


CONCLUSIONS
A decrease in the use of amoxicillin-clavulanate was followed by an increase in susceptibility of E coli to it. It was not possible to prove a causative relationship. Only a temporal association was discovered. The reduction of the use of amoxicillin-clavulanate was achieved through the implementation of treatment guidelines, facilitated through a close collaboration among the clinical pharmacists, the infection control practitioner, the microbiology laboratory, and the physicians in charge of the respective departments.
Natsch
S
S
Clinical Pharmacy, Hospital of Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Conrad
C
C
Hartmeier
C
C
Schmid
B
B
D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D013557:Switzerland; D013997:Time Factors
D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination