Relationship between antibiotic consumption and frequency of antibiotic resistance of four pathogens—a seven-year survey

Abstract

The resistance rates of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella spp., Escherichia coli and Proteus spp. for four antibiotics were established yearly for a period of 7 years. Strains were grouped according to their origin. An attempt was made to correlate the resistance rates of hospital isolates with data on antibiotic consumption. A rising benzylpenicillin resistance rate of staphylococci did not correlate with penicillin consumption, but could be explained by an increase in the consumption of penicillin and ampicillin together. The kanamycin resistance rates of enterobacteria rose along with an increase in kanamycin usage. For Klebsiella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, the reverse was found with regard to tetracycline. In spite of an increasing ampicillin consumption the ampicillin resistance rates of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. decreased. Some possible explanations for the results are discussed.