ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE IN NOSOCOMIAL ISOLATES IN SCOTLAND

In this first multi-centre study in Scotland, 1028 consecutive Gram-ne gative and staphylococci strains were obtained from four major teachin g hospitals. E. coli was the most common organism among both intensive care units (ICUs) (39%) and non-ICU strains (46.6%). The prevalence o f antibiotic resistance among E. coil was always higher in isolates fr om ICUs than non-ICUs: ceftazidime (14.1%, 7.2%), ceftriaxone (12.7%, 6.1%), cefotaxime (15.5%, 8.7%), cefuroxime (28.8%, 20.8%), amoxicilli n plus clavulanic acid (52.2%, 38.8%) and gentamicin (7.0%, 2.8%). The highest incidences of resistance were identified among Enterobacter/C itrobacter spp. from ICUs; 43.8%, 41.7%, 45.8%, 54.2%, 87.5% and 10.4% of these organisms were resistant to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefota xime, cefuroxime, amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid and gentamicin, res pectively.