Meropenem resistance in intensive care units in Ukraine

Abstract

The article reviews the issue of antibiotic resistance of microorganisms to meropenem in intensive care units in Ukraine. An increase in meropenem inefficiency against microorganisms in intensive care units has been observed in the last years. The data analysis suggests a significant predominance of gram-negative flora: A. baumannii, Р. aeruginosa, К. pneumoniae, E. cloacae, E.coli. On average 30% of microorganisms are resistant to 5 and more basic antibiotics including meropenem. 40-80 % of the gram-negative flora in intensive care units in Ukraine are resistant to meropenem. This can be attributed to the free sale of antibiotics without prescription, patients’ self-treatment, inadequate antibiotic therapy, and failure to comply with sanitary norms on the part of intensive care staff. Microbiological diagnostics of infectious pathogens also needs improvement. Unless proper measures are taken within a few years, meropenem as an antibiotic is likely to disappear in Ukraine.