Abstract
Objective:
To report on methods to halt the increasing resistance of gram-negative organisms to ampicillin/sulbactam.
Design:
A before-after observational design was used to evaluate susceptibility of organisms to ampicillin/sulbactam.
Setting:
A university teaching hospital.
Interventions:
An educational program regarding appropriate prescribing of ampicillin/sulbactam and restriction of the use of ampicillin/sulbactam.
Main Outcome Measures:
Antimicrobial susceptibility to ampicillin/sulbactam.
Results:
The trend in increasing resistance was halted for Escherichia coli and Enterobacter. Emerging resistance of other organisms was not observed.
Conclusions:
The trend in increasing resistance was halted by restrictions on prescribing and by providing education regarding rational prescribing of ampicillin/sulbactam. We recommend that this combination not be used empirically to treat nosocomial infections or for bacteria against which ampicillin alone is effective.
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