Characterization of antibiotic prescription in intensive care units according to the Access, Watch, and Reserve classification.

Introduction: The inappropriate use of antibiotics in intensive care units poses risks, such as increased infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria and adverse reactions. The World Health Organization's strategy, named Access, Watch, and Reserve, aims to mitigate these risks by categorizing antibiotics into these categories. Objective: To characterize antibiotic consumption in the adult population of intensive care units during the first quarter of 2023. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study on patients in intensive care units was conducted. A bivariate and multivariate analyses with logistic regression were carried out. Results: 807 intensive care unit patients were studied, with a median age of 60 years. Piperacillin/tazobactam was the most prescribed antibiotic. According to the Access, Watch, and Reserve classification, 77.96% of prescriptions fell into Watch category, 11.29% into Reserve, and 10.75% into Access. Discussion: Antibiotic use in intensive care units is crucial for managing critically ill patients. Our study focuses on the challenges of antibiotic selection, complication management, and emphasizes antimicrobial stewardship for optimal therapy and reduced resistance. Conclusion: It is crucial to conduct an intervention study to demonstrate how increasing interaction of the antimicrobial stewardship team during prescription can enhance antibiotic use, reduce side effects, and decrease unnecessary costs.