Analysis of antibacterial agents consumption in a Brazilian southeastern hospital complex from 2018 to 2021

Abstract Healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to the inappropriate use of antimicrobial agents and contributed to elevated multidrug resistance. The aim of this study was to analyze the consumption of antibacterial agents at a hospital complex from 2018 to 2021. Drug utilization study using antibacterial agents consumption data. The groups of antibacterial agents most consumed in the hospital complex were carbapenems, penicillins + beta-lactamase inhibitors, beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins, glycopeptides, and fluoroquinolones. The drugs with a compound annual growth rate that increased by more than 20% from 2018 to 2021 were amikacin (50.12%), benzylpenicillin (24.33%), oral clarithromycin (51.06%), daptomycin (34.38%), polymyxin B (20.85%), and tigecycline (41.49%). According to the AWaRE classification, the antibacterial agents from the Watch group subjected to AWaRE exhibited increased consumption in all years of the study. On the other hand, there was a reduction in the access category. In turn, the consumption of antibacterial agents in the reserve category also increased. The pattern of antimicrobial consumption in the hospital complex showed increased consumption in medical clinics and intensive care units, with a predominance of carbapenems, penicillins + beta-lactamase inhibitors, beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins, glycopeptides, fluoroquinolones, and polymyxin B, reflecting the care profile and influence of the COVID-19 pandemic.