Variation in antibiotic use in neonatal intensive care units in the Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the variation in quantity and classes of antibiotics used in all 10 tertiary care neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in the Netherlands during 2005.


METHODS
We collected data from all tertiary care NICUs in the Netherlands on clinical and demographic characteristics and the type and quantity of systemic antibiotic use [expressed as defined daily doses (DDD)/100 admissions] in 2005. Antibiotics were ranked by volume of DDDs, and those antibiotics which accounted for 90% of the total volume of use [drug utilization (DU) 90%] were noted.


RESULTS
Antibiotic consumption ranged from 130 to 360 DDD/100 admissions. In total, 9-24 different antibiotics were used, of which 3-10 were in the DU90% segment.


CONCLUSIONS
By comparing antibiotic use in Dutch NICUs we found a considerable variation in the number of different antibiotics used and in the total amount of antibiotic use. Further exploration of the opportunities to reach consensus in antibiotic policy, and to increase attention to antibiotic stewardship, is recommended.
Liem
T B Yves
TB
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. y.liem@umcutrecht.nl
Krediet
Tannette G
TG
Fleer
André
A
Egberts
Toine C G
TC
Rademaker
Carin M A
CM
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D009426:Netherlands
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents