Antimicrobial resistance in intensive care units

The unique nature of the intensive care unit (ICU) environment makes this p art of the hospital a focus for the emergence and spread of many antimicrob ial-resistant pathogens. There are ample opportunities for the cross-transm ission of resistant bacteria from patient to patient, and patients are comm only exposed to broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Rates of resistance ha ve increased for most pathogens associated with nosocomial infections among ICU patients, and rates are almost universally higher among ICU patients c ompared with non-ICU patients. There are many opportunities, however, to pr event the emergence and spread of these resistant pathogens through improve d use of established infection control measures (i.e., patient isolation, h and washing, glove use, and appropriate gown use), and implementation of a systematic review of antimicrobial use.