A study published in the open access journal PloS ONE reveals that the use of “last resort” antibiotics is on the rise due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Makoto Jones, of the Veterans Affairs Salt Lake City Health Care System, and colleagues conducted the study in order to investigate the use of two such antibiotics, tigecycline and polymyxins, in 127 Veterans Affairs Medical centers between 2005 and 2010.
The researchers found that 26 centers accounted for 75% of all tigecycline use, and just 8 centers accounted for 75% of all polymyxin use.
Although the overall use of these antibiotics was relatively low, more patients began taking them during the study period.
Dr. Jones explained:
“The use of polymyxins, a class of relatively toxic antibiotics, has been increasing over time and appears to be a marker of very resistant bacteria.
To address this potential harbinger of a growing epidemic, a clear strategy of infection control, antibiotic development, and antibiotic stewardship will be necessary.”
In an Abstract in the same journal, the authors wrote:
“In summary, while polymyxin and tigecycline use is low in most VAMCs, there has been an increase over the study period.
Polymyxin use in particular is associated with the presence of MDR Gram-negative pathogens and may be useful as a surveillance measure in the future.”
Written By Grace Rattue