Association between antibiotic consumption and the rate of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from China based on 153 tertiary hospitals data in 2014

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the relationship between the rate of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria and antibiotic consumption intensity in 153 tertiary hospitals from China in 2014.MethodsA retrospective study using national surveillance data from 2014 was conducted. Data on the annual consumption of each antibiotic, as well as the rate of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, were collected from each participating hospital, and the correlation between antibiotic consumption and carbapenem- resistant rate was analyzed.ResultsThe overall antibiotic consumption intensity among the hospitals varied between 23.93 and 86.80 defined daily dosages (DDDs) per 100 patient-days (median, 46.30 DDDs per 100 patient-days). Cephalosporins were the most commonly used antibiotic, followed by quinolones, penicillins, and carbapenems, and the rate of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria from each hospital varied. The correlations between carbapenem consumption intensity and rate of carbapenem resistance revealed correlation factors of 0.271 for Escherichia coli (p<0.01), 0.427 for Klebsiella pneumoniae (p<0.01), 0.463 for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p<0.01), and 0.331 for Acinetobacter baumannii (p<0.01).ConclusionsA significant relationship existed between the carbapenem consumption and the rates of carbapenem-resistant gram negative bacilli. Rational use of carbapenems should be implemented to address the issue of carbapenem resistance in hospitals.