Publication
Title
Antifungal therapy in European hospitals : data from the ESAC point-prevalence surveys 2008 and 2009
Author
Institution/Organisation
ESAC-3 Hospital Care Subproject Group
Abstract
The study aimed to identify targets for quality improvement in antifungal use in European hospitals and determine the variability of such prescribing. Hospitals that participated in the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Point Prevalence Surveys (ESAC-PPS) were included. The WHO Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification for antimycotics for systemic use (J02) 2009 version was used. Demographic data and information about indications and diagnoses were collected in 2008 and 2009. From 99 053 patients, 29 324 (29.6%) received antimicrobials. Antifungals represented 1529 of 40 878 (3.7%) antimicrobials. Antifungals were mainly (54.2%) administered orally. Hospital-acquired infections represented 44.5% of indications for antifungals followed by medical prophylaxis at 31.2%. The site of infection was not defined in 36.0% of cases but the most commonly targeted sites were respiratory (19.2%) and gastrointestinal (18.8%). The most used antifungal was fluconazole (60.5%) followed by caspofungin (10.5%). Antifungalantibacterial combinations were frequently used (77.5%). The predominance of fluconazole use in participating hospitals could result in an increase in prevalence of inherently resistant fungi, increasing the need for newer antifungals. Although acknowledging that antifungal prophylaxis in the immunocompromised host needs further exploration, repetitive surveys using ESAC-PPS methodology may help to monitor the effects of interventions set to regulate antifungal use.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Clinical microbiology and infection / European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2012
ISSN
1198-743X [print]
1469-0691 [online]
DOI
10.1111/J.1469-0691.2012.03973.X
Volume/pages
18 :10 (2012) , p. 389-395
ISI
000308579400003
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 25.07.2012
Last edited 09.10.2023
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