[Antibiotic prescribing practice in urological departments in Germany: results of a cross-sectional study].

Abstract

Background: The patterns and intensity of inpatient antibiotic prescribing vary according to medical specialty.

Objectives: Analysis of recent data on antibiotic use density in hospital departments of urology in Germany.

Methods: Annual surveillance data of 107 departments for the period 2022/2023 were evaluated. We used a daily dose definition adapted for adult hospitalized patients (recommended daily doses, RDD), and 100 patient days as the denominator (RDD/100).

Results: The overall median antibiotic use density was 71 RDD/100 with a wide range between 15.9 and 138.7 RDD/100 but no significant differences according to hospital size. Fluoroquinolones (median 6.0 RDD/100) were prescribed as the fourth most frequent antibiotic class after broad-spectrum cephalosporins (median 16.2 RDD/100), aminopenicillin/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations (median 10.8 RDD/100), and broad-spectrum penicillins (piperacillin-tazobactam and piperacillin) (median 8.9 RDD/100). The ratio between penicillin and cephalosporin RDD per hospital ranged from 6:94 to 98:2 (overall 52:48). The proportion of aminoglycosides (< 1%) and parenteral fosfomycin (< 0.1%) was very small. Cotrimoxazole (median 4.0 RDD/100) was less frequently prescribed than fluoroquinolones. The proportion of oral agents was 44.7% overall, with only small differences according to hospital size. Oral fosfomycin, pivmecillinam, nitrofurantoin, and nitroxoline were much less frequently prescribed than oral beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, and cotrimoxazole.

Conclusion: The overall antibiotic use density in urological hospital departments varied substantially in 2022/2023. Beta-lactam antibiotics were the most frequently used antibiotics, while fluoroquinolones (often as oral agents) continued to be prescribed with a large range similar to overall antibiotic use and independent of hospital size. Inpatient prescribing of the agents recommended and typically used for uncomplicated cystitis was rare. Penicillins and cotrimoxazole should more often be considered as the treatment option. Aminoglycosides and parenteral fosfomycin should be discussed in cases of otherwise drug-resistant pathogens.