Emergence of resistant microbes in critical care units is transient, despite an unrestricted formulary and multiple antibiotic trials.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem in the intensive care setting. This study was designed to evaluate the trends in bacterial prevalence and changes in antibiotic resistance at a large university hospital over the past decade. Antimicrobial resistance data were compared among the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), medical intensive care unit (MICU), and burn unit (BNU).