Sammanfattning
BACKGROUND
One of the goals in the Action plan against antibiotics resistance in the health services is to reduce the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in Norwegian hospitals. This article describes how broad-spectrum antibiotics highlighted in the action plan were prescribed in Norwegian hospitals in the spring of 2016, and assesses if the prescribing habits complied with the guidelines for the use of antibiotics in hospitals.
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Data were extracted from an anonymised point prevalence survey undertaken in May 2016, in which all systemic use of antibiotics in Norwegian hospitals was registered.
RESULTS
Broad-spectrum antibiotics accounted for 33 % of all prescriptions of antibiotics in the survey. Altogether 84 % of the broad-spectrum antibiotics were administered as treatment, while 8 % were administered as prophylaxis and 8 % were classified as other/unknown. Lower respiratory tract infection was the most frequent indication for treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and accounted for 30 % of all treatment with these antibiotics.
INTERPRETATION
This point prevalence survey in Norwegian hospitals in the spring of 2016 indicates that a reduced use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is possible, including treatment of lower respiratory tract infections and for prophylactic purposes. Reducing healthcare-associated infections would additionally reduce the use.