Variation in the use of procedures to monitor antimicrobial resistance in U.S. hospitals.
BACKGROUND
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing clinical and public health crisis. Experts have recommended measures to monitor antimicrobial resistance; however, little is known regarding their use.


OBJECTIVE
We describe the use of procedures to detect and report antimicrobial resistance in U.S. hospitals and the organizational and epidemiologic factors associated with their use.


METHODS
In 2001, we surveyed laboratory directors (n = 108) from a random national sample of hospitals. We studied five procedures to monitor antimicrobial resistance: (1) disseminating antibiograms to physicians at least annually, (2) notifying physicians of antimicrobial-resistant infections, (3) reporting susceptibility results within 24 hours, (4) using automated testing procedures, and (5) offering molecular typing. Explanatory variables included organizational characteristics and patterns of antimicrobial resistance for oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli, and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella species. Generalized estimating equations accounting for the correlation among outcomes at the facility level were used to identify predictors of the five outcomes.


RESULTS
Use of the procedures ranged from 85% (automated testing) to 33% (offering molecular typing) and was related to teaching hospital status (OR, 3.1; CI95, 1.5-6.5), participation of laboratory directors on the infection control committee (OR, 1.7; CI95, 1.1-2.8), and having at least one antimicrobial-resistant pathogen with a prevalence greater than 10% (OR, 2.2; CI95, 1.4-3.3).


CONCLUSIONS
U.S. hospitals underutilize procedures to monitor the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Use of these procedures varies and is related to organizational and epidemiologic factors. Further efforts are needed to increase their use by hospitals.
Flach
Stephen D
SD
Department of Internal Medicine, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA. stephen-flach@uiowa.edu
Diekema
Daniel J
DJ
Yankey
Jon W
JW
BootsMiller
Bonnie J
BJ
Vaughn
Thomas E
TE
Ernst
Erika J
EJ
Ward
Marcia M
MM
Doebbeling
Bradley N
BN
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017751:Safety Management / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States