Rapidly rising prevalence of nosocomial multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative bacilli: a 9-year surveillance study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine and quantify the temporal trends of nosocomial multidrug-resistant, gram-negative bacilli.


METHODS
A 9-year surveillance study was conducted. Multidrug resistance was defined as resistance to 3 or more antimicrobial classes.


METHODS
Tertiary-care institution.


RESULTS
From 1994 to 2002, multidrug-resistant, gram-negative bacilli increased from 1% to 16% for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 4% to 13% for multidrug-resistant Enterobacter species, 0.5% to 17% for multidrug-resistant Klebsiella species, 0% to 9% for multidrug-resistant Proteus species, and 0.2% to 4% for multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli (P < or = .05). The most common pattern of multidrug resistance was co-resistance to quinolones, third-generation cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides.


CONCLUSIONS
The rapid rise of multidrug-resistant, gram-negative bacilli may warrant infection control programs to include these pathogens in strategies aimed at limiting the emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.
D'Agata
Erika M C
EM
Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA.
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D004754:Enterobacter; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa