Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey
Abstract Background Hospital-acquired infections (HI) and associated antimicrobial use (AU) significantly contribute to antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to analyse AU patterns for HI treatment in German acute care hospitals. Methods We analysed data from the German 2022 point prevalence survey (PP...
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BMC
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01608-4 |
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| author | Seven Johannes Sam Aghdassi Selin Saydan Frieder Pfäfflin Miriam Songa Stegemann Anja Theloe Michael Behnke Luis Alberto Peña Diaz Alexander Gropmann Christine Geffers Brar Piening Sonja Hansen |
| author_facet | Seven Johannes Sam Aghdassi Selin Saydan Frieder Pfäfflin Miriam Songa Stegemann Anja Theloe Michael Behnke Luis Alberto Peña Diaz Alexander Gropmann Christine Geffers Brar Piening Sonja Hansen |
| author_sort | Seven Johannes Sam Aghdassi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hospital-acquired infections (HI) and associated antimicrobial use (AU) significantly contribute to antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to analyse AU patterns for HI treatment in German acute care hospitals. Methods We analysed data from the German 2022 point prevalence survey (PPS) on AU and healthcare-associated infections, using the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control protocol across 252 hospitals. Analyses focused on key infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) indicators and AU for HI, categorised by the World Health Organisation AWaRe classification. Comparisons were made to the previous national PPS in 2016 and 2011. Results A total of 22 422 antimicrobial prescriptions were recorded in 66 586 patients. HI treatment accounted for 20% of AU. Penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenems and third-generation cephalosporins accounted for over 50% of AU for HI treatment. Watch antimicrobials dominated HI treatment prescriptions, accounting for around 62% of use, particularly in respiratory infections, while use of Access antimicrobials was limited (24%). Skin and soft tissue as well as bone and joint infections, respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections were the most commonly treated HI. Over time, IPC indicators, such as alcohol-based hand rub consumption and IPC staffing, improved significantly, yet AMS staffing remained low and comprehensive hospital-wide post-prescription reviews were limited to around a quarter of hospitals. Conclusions The findings underscore the importance of reducing HI to curb the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials in German hospitals. IPC should be included in AMS strategies, alongside aspects like improving AMS staffing and establishing post-prescription review programmes. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2047-2994 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| series | Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control |
| spelling | doaj-art-7df476eeff164e37b7ac8df3cb760c132025-08-20T04:03:11ZengBMCAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control2047-29942025-07-0114111010.1186/s13756-025-01608-4Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence surveySeven Johannes Sam Aghdassi0Selin Saydan1Frieder Pfäfflin2Miriam Songa Stegemann3Anja Theloe4Michael Behnke5Luis Alberto Peña Diaz6Alexander Gropmann7Christine Geffers8Brar Piening9Sonja Hansen10Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Pharmacy DepartmentCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineCharité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental MedicineAbstract Background Hospital-acquired infections (HI) and associated antimicrobial use (AU) significantly contribute to antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to analyse AU patterns for HI treatment in German acute care hospitals. Methods We analysed data from the German 2022 point prevalence survey (PPS) on AU and healthcare-associated infections, using the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control protocol across 252 hospitals. Analyses focused on key infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) indicators and AU for HI, categorised by the World Health Organisation AWaRe classification. Comparisons were made to the previous national PPS in 2016 and 2011. Results A total of 22 422 antimicrobial prescriptions were recorded in 66 586 patients. HI treatment accounted for 20% of AU. Penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenems and third-generation cephalosporins accounted for over 50% of AU for HI treatment. Watch antimicrobials dominated HI treatment prescriptions, accounting for around 62% of use, particularly in respiratory infections, while use of Access antimicrobials was limited (24%). Skin and soft tissue as well as bone and joint infections, respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections were the most commonly treated HI. Over time, IPC indicators, such as alcohol-based hand rub consumption and IPC staffing, improved significantly, yet AMS staffing remained low and comprehensive hospital-wide post-prescription reviews were limited to around a quarter of hospitals. Conclusions The findings underscore the importance of reducing HI to curb the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials in German hospitals. IPC should be included in AMS strategies, alongside aspects like improving AMS staffing and establishing post-prescription review programmes.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01608-4Antimicrobial useAntimicrobial stewardshipSurveillancePoint prevalence surveyInfection control |
| spellingShingle | Seven Johannes Sam Aghdassi Selin Saydan Frieder Pfäfflin Miriam Songa Stegemann Anja Theloe Michael Behnke Luis Alberto Peña Diaz Alexander Gropmann Christine Geffers Brar Piening Sonja Hansen Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Antimicrobial use Antimicrobial stewardship Surveillance Point prevalence survey Infection control |
| title | Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey |
| title_full | Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey |
| title_fullStr | Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey |
| title_short | Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey |
| title_sort | broad spectrum and watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital acquired infections in german acute care hospitals results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey |
| topic | Antimicrobial use Antimicrobial stewardship Surveillance Point prevalence survey Infection control |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-025-01608-4 |
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