Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40676706›Full record

ArticleAntimicrobial resistance and infection control2025

Broad-spectrum and Watch antimicrobials are commonly used to treat hospital-acquired infections in German acute care hospitals: results from the 2022 national point prevalence survey.

Seven Johannes Sam Aghdassi, Selin Saydan, Frieder Pfäfflin, Miriam Songa Stegemann, Anja Theloe, Michael Behnke, Luis Alberto Peña Diaz, Alexander Gropmann, Christine Geffers, Brar Piening and 1 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Antimicrobial resistance and infection control, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Seven Johannes Sam AghdassiCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany. seven-johannes-sam.aghdassi@charite.de.
Selin SaydanCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Frieder PfäfflinCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Miriam Songa StegemannCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Anja TheloeCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Pharmacy Department, Berlin, Germany.
Michael BehnkeCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Luis Alberto Peña DiazCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Alexander GropmannCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Christine GeffersCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Brar Piening *Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
Sonja Hansen *Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Berlin, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHospital-acquired infections (HI) and associated antimicrobial use (AU) significantly contribute to antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to analyse AU patterns for HI treatment in German acute care hospitals.

methodsWe analysed data from the German 2022 point prevalence survey (PPS) on AU and healthcare-associated infections, using the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control protocol across 252 hospitals. Analyses focused on key infection prevention and control (IPC), antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) indicators and AU for HI, categorised by the World Health Organisation AWaRe classification. Comparisons were made to the previous national PPS in 2016 and 2011.

resultsA total of 22 422 antimicrobial prescriptions were recorded in 66 586 patients. HI treatment accounted for 20% of AU. Penicillins with beta-lactamase inhibitors, carbapenems and third-generation cephalosporins accounted for over 50% of AU for HI treatment. Watch antimicrobials dominated HI treatment prescriptions, accounting for around 62% of use, particularly in respiratory infections, while use of Access antimicrobials was limited (24%). Skin and soft tissue as well as bone and joint infections, respiratory infections, and urinary tract infections were the most commonly treated HI. Over time, IPC indicators, such as alcohol-based hand rub consumption and IPC staffing, improved significantly, yet AMS staffing remained low and comprehensive hospital-wide post-prescription reviews were limited to around a quarter of hospitals.

conclusionsThe findings underscore the importance of reducing HI to curb the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials in German hospitals. IPC should be included in AMS strategies, alongside aspects like improving AMS staffing and establishing post-prescription review programmes.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsAnti-Infective AgentsAntimicrobial StewardshipCross InfectionAdultAgedDrug UtilizationFemaleGermanyHospitalsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceSurveys and QuestionnairesAnti-Bacterial AgentsAnti-Infective AgentsAntimicrobial stewardshipAntimicrobial useInfection controlPoint prevalence surveySurveillance

Identifiers

PMID40676706
PMCPMC12273445

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.