Purpose
To report initial results from a European ICU surveillance programme focussing on antibiotic consumption, microbial resistance
and infection control.
Methods
Thirty-five ICUs participated during 2005. Microbial resistance, antibiotic consumption and infection control stewardship
measures were entered locally into a web-application. Results were validated locally, aggregated by project leaders and fed
back to support local audit and benchmarking.
Results
Median (range) antibiotic consumption was 1,254 (range 348–4,992) DDD per 1,000 occupied bed days. The proportion of MRSA
was median 11.6% (range 0–100), for ESBL phenotype of E. coli and K. pneumoniae 3.9% (0–80) and 14.3% (0–77.8) respectively, and for carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa 22.5% (0–100). Screening on admission for alert pathogens was commonly omitted, and there was a lack of single rooms for
isolation.
Conclusions
The surveillance programme demonstrated wide variation in antibiotic consumption, microbial resistance and infection control
measures. The programme may, by providing rapid access to aggregated results, promote local and regional audit and benchmarking
of antibiotic use and infection control practices.
Keywords Intensive care - Antibiotic consumption - Microbial resistance - Infection control