title: Use of antibiotics in nursing homes--surveillance with different methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Residents in nursing homes have a heightened risk of developing infections that should be treated with antibiotics. Inappropriate use of antibiotics may generate drug-related problems and increase resistance. In this study, we describe the use of antibiotics in nursing homes on the basis of prevalence surveys and drug sales statistics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five nursing homes in Oslo participated in two one-day surveys in 2009. All use of systemic antibiotics was registered. The data collection was undertaken according to a protocol developed by the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption (ESAC) Network and was part of a European study. The nursing homes' drug sales statistics for systemic antibiotics during 2009, distributed by the number of bed days for each nursing home, were estimated. Information on indications for each antibiotic from the prevalence surveys was collated with sales data to achieve an estimate of how the purchased antibiotics were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence surveys showed that more than 8% of the residents received antibiotics. Prophylactic treatment accounted for 33% of the prescriptions. A prevalence of antibiotic use of 10% was estimated from the drug sales statistics. Urinary tract infection was the most frequently registered indication. Pivmecillinam and methenamine were most frequently prescribed and most frequently purchased. Most courses of treatment were prescribed in accordance with the national guidelines for antibiotic use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results from the drug sales statistics concurred well with the prevalence surveys, and the methods can thus be relevant for purposes of monitoring the use of antibiotics.
authors.forename: Hanne-Merete
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Eriksen
authors.forename: Anja Ramberg
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sæther
authors.forename: Kirsten K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Viktil
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andberg
authors.forename: Marianne Winther
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Munkerud
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Willoch
authors.forename: Hege Salvesen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Blix
mesh_terms: D000561:Amdinocillin Pivoxil / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D006801:Humans; D008709:Methenamine / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009664:Norway; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000561:Amdinocillin Pivoxil; D008709:Methenamine