Resistente Erreger auf der Intensivstation

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens causing healthcare-associated infections pose an increasing public health challenge. Intensive care units represent a center for their generation, selection, and transmission due to the increased morbidity of patients, the increasing number of invasive procedures, inappropriate antibiotic usage, and non-compliance with standard infection control practices. This problem is made more complex because of varying levels of antibiotic resistance depending on the type of healthcare facility, the geographic area, differences between the individual resistant pathogens, and the difficulties associated with detecting some resistance mechanisms. While MRSA epidemics have leveled off in Germany, the rate of Gram-negative pathogens becoming resistant, especially those of the ESBL-phenotype, is steadily increasing. Since treatment options are limited, the establishment of improved antibiotic regimens as well as the implementation of cross-transmission prevention strategies is urgently needed. However, all attempts to meet this public health challenge will only work if this matter is prioritized and appropriate levels of resources are allocated and then used efficiently.