AMINOGLYCOSIDE USE AND THE SUSCEPTIBILITY OF GRAM-NEGATIVE PATHOGENS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT 1756

Abstract

The extensive use of aminoglycosides is associated with selection for resistant bacteria. Therefore, aminoglycoside use and the susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are monitored in our neonatal intensive care unit(NICU). We previously reported on the exclusive use of amikacin (AMK) in our nursery from 11/80 through 12/85 (Ped Inf Dis J. 6:461,1987). From 1/86 - 9/91 AMK continued to be the aminoglycoside of choice (period I). During period I, there were 5,836 admissions and AMK was used for 24,025 of 24,111 total aminoglycoside patient days (99.6%). GNB were isolated from 189 of 14,961 clinical specimens cultured during period I. 1.1% of the gram-negative isolates were amikacin-resistant and 2.7% were gentamicin-resistant.