ANTIMICROBIAL DRUG-USE IN HOSPITALS IN THE NETHERLANDS, GERMANY AND BELGIUM

Data on the use of antimicrobial drugs was collected by means of an in quiry to 30 hospitals in Belgium (15 in Dutch sectors and 15 in the Fr ench sectors), 21 hospitals in Germany and 20 hospitals in the Netherl ands. The use of these drugs was expressed as the number of defined da ily doses (DDD) per 100 bed days by the anatomical therapeutical chemi cal classification system. The total use of antimicrobial agents was s ignificantly (p < 0.001) higher in both parts of Belgium (55.6 and 52. 0 DDD per 100 bed days) than in Germany (37.9 DDD) or the Netherlands (34.1 DDD). In particular, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, the first- and second-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolone s were used more in Belgium than in either of the other countries. At least part of the differences observed in antimicrobial drug use could be explained by differences in written antibiotic policy.