National multicenter survey: the use of intravenous antimicrobial agents

• Published in: Revista española de quimioterapia Vol. 19; no. 4; pp. 349 - 356
• Main Authors: Gutiérrez Zufiaurre, M N, García-Rodríguez, J A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.12.2006
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - economics; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacteremia - epidemiology; Bacteremia - etiology; Bacteremia - prevention & control; Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects; Catheterization, Central Venous - economics; Catheterization, Central Venous - nursing; Catheterization, Central Venous - statistics & numerical data; Catheterization, Peripheral - adverse effects; Catheterization, Peripheral - economics; Catheterization, Peripheral - nursing; Catheterization, Peripheral - statistics & numerical data; Catheters, Indwelling - adverse effects; Catheters, Indwelling - economics; Catheters, Indwelling - statistics & numerical data; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - nursing; Data Collection; Drug Costs; Drug Utilization - economics; Drug Utilization - statistics & numerical data; Hospital Bed Capacity - statistics & numerical data; Hospital Costs; Hospitals, Public - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous - economics; Infusions, Intravenous - nursing; Infusions, Intravenous - statistics & numerical data; Intensive Care Units - statistics & numerical data; Internal Medicine - statistics & numerical data; Nursing Staff, Hospital - economics; Nursing Staff, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Risk; Spain - epidemiology; Surgery Department, Hospital - statistics & numerical data; Workload; Spain
• ISSN: 0214-3429

Infectious diseases are currently one of the major health problems worldwide. As a consequence, both nosocomial and community-acquired infections are responsible for a significant increase in workload and health costs for hospitals, particularly in Intensive Care Units (ICU), Internal Medicine and Surgery. The use of intravenous antimicrobial agents is common in hospitalized patients. In order to determine the use of antimicrobial agents and the most frequent procedures used for their administration in Spanish hospitals, a national multicenter survey was undertaken among ICU, Internal Medicine and Surgery health staff from 63 hospitals, in which data were collected on central and peripheral catheter manipulation and intravenous administration. Results showed that, in Spain, both catheter manipulation (insertion, maintenance and removal) and administration of antimicrobial agents are performed by the nursing staff following established protocols, particularly for central catheters. Moreover, the ICUs had the highest rates of catheter-bearing patients, as well as patients undergoing antimicrobial treatment, sometimes in combination. The use of intravenous antimicrobial agents in Spanish hospitals results in an increased workload for the nursing staff and higher health costs, not to mention the risk involved with the use of vascular catheters.