Inadequate treatment of nosocomial infections is associated with certain empiric antibiotic choices.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of scheduled changes of antibiotic classes, used for the empirical treatment of suspected or documented Gram-negative bacterial infections, on the occurrence of inadequate antimicrobial treatment of nosocomial infections.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
Medical (19-bed) and surgical (18-bed) intensive care units in an urban teaching hospital.


METHODS
A total of 3,668 patients requiring intensive care unit admission were prospectively evaluated during three consecutive time periods.


METHODS
During each time period, one antibiotic class was selected for the empirical treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections as follows: time period 1 (baseline period) (1,323 patients), ceftazidime; time period 2 (1,243 patients), ciprofloxacin; and time period 3 (1,102 patients), cefepime.


RESULTS
The overall administration of inadequate antimicrobial treatment for nosocomial infections decreased during the course of the study (6.1%, 4.7%, and 4.5%; p = .15). This was primarily because of a statistically significant decrease in the administration of inadequate antibiotic treatment for Gram-negative bacterial infections (4.4%, 2.1%, and 1.6%; p < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in the overall hospital mortality rate among the three time periods (15.6%, 16.4%, and 16.2%; p = .828) despite a significant increase in severity of illness as measured with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (15.3 +/- 7.6, 15.7 +/- 8.0, and 20.7 +/- 8.6; p < .001). The hospital mortality rate decreased significantly during time period 3 (20.6%) compared with time period 1 (28.4%; p < .001) and time period 2 (29.5%; p < .001) for patients with an APACHE II score > or = 15.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that scheduled changes of antibiotic classes for the empirical treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections can reduce the occurrence of inadequate antibiotic treatment for nosocomial infections. Reducing inadequate antibiotic administration may improve the outcomes of critically ill patients with APACHE II scores > or = 15.
Kollef
M H
MH
Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
Ward
S
S
Sherman
G
G
Prentice
D
D
Schaiff
R
R
Huey
W
W
Fraser
V J
VJ
D018806:APACHE; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D019348:Empiricism; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008923:Missouri / Q000453:epidemiology; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents