Abstract
The rate of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa has risen in our hospital. We thought that the increase in the amount used of carbapenems was tied to the rise in carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. Therefore, we introduced a notification policy of specific antimicrobial usage in January 2006. The notification policy has been compulsory since August 2006. We investigated the change in the amount used of specific antimicrobial agents and the amount used of carbapenems, and monitored the rate of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa among inpatients. After the notification policy became compulsory, 99.6% of new uses were submitted for notification. The amount used of a specific antimicrobial agent decreased by 62.7% from 2005 to August 2006-July 2007. Antimicrobial use density of carbapenems decreased by 59.1%, from 23.4 in 2005 to 9.6 in August 2006-July 2007. In order to assess the rate of resistant P. aeruginosa among inpatients, the rate of resistant samples was collected after the first five days of hospitalization. The rate of imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa decreased from 28% in 2005 to 13% in 2008 (p<0.05). The rate of meropenem-resistant P. aeruginosa decreased from 21% in 2005 to 9% in 2008 (p<0.05). Introduction of the compulsory notification policy of specific antimicrobial usage reduced the rate of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa among inpatients.
