Researchers from the CDC used the Truven Health MarketScan Hospital Drug Database to examine adult and pediatric inpatient antibiotic use data from Jan. 1, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2012. The numbers included antibiotic use for more than 34 million discharges from roughly 300 participating hospitals.
They found 55.1 percent of patients received at least one dose of antibiotics during their hospital stay, and there was not a significant change in overall antibiotic use over time.
However, researchers did uncover a significant increase in the use of certain antibiotics, including third- and fourth-generation cephalosporins, macrolides, glycopeptides, beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations, carbapenems and tetracyclines.
“This trend is worrisome in light of the rising challenge of antibiotic resistance,” the report reads. “Because inappropriate antibiotic use increases the risk of antibiotic resistance and other adverse patient outcomes, continued monitoring of antibiotic use is critical to future improvements in patient safety.”
More articles on antibiotic resistance:
UN to discuss antibiotic resistance for first time
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