Association between antimicrobial consumption and resistance in Escherichia coli.

During a 9-year study period from 1997 through 2005, the association between antimicrobial resistance rates in Escherichia coli and outpatient antimicrobial consumption was investigated in 20 hospital districts in Finland. A total of 754,293 E. coli isolates, mainly from urine samples, were tested for antimicrobial resistance in 26 clinical microbiology laboratories.

Trends in opioid consumption in the Nordic countries 2002-2006.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the trends in opioid consumption in the five Nordic countries between 2002 and 2006 and to explore possible explanations for changes in the quality and quantity of opioids consumed.

Methods: Data on opioid consumption were extracted from the databases of the respective national authorities. Six strong and four weak opioids were included in the analysis.

Connection between trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole use and resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis.

The association between trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole use and resistance among the major respiratory tract pathogens was investigated by comparing regional consumption of the drug to regional resistance in the following year in 21 central hospital districts in Finland. A total of 23,530 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, 28,320 Haemophilus influenzae isolates, and 14,138 Moraxella catarrhalis isolates were tested for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole susceptibility during the study period (1998-2004). Among the S.

What do different databases tell about the use of opioids in seven European countries in 2002?

Objective: The objective of this paper was to analyse opioid consumption in a number European countries using different sources of data.

Methods: Data were extracted from the United Nations' International Narcotics Control Board Report (INCB) 2003 and from the registers of the national health authorities in seven countries where data were available for 2002. The amount of opioid used was calculated as daily defined doses per 1000 inhabitants per day (DDD/1000/day).

Macrolide and azithromycin use are linked to increased macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

The connection between regional rates of antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae and regional antimicrobial use in Finland was investigated. During the 6-year study period of 1997 to 2002, a total of 31,609 S. pneumoniae isolates were tested for penicillin resistance and a total of 23,769 isolates were tested for macrolide resistance in 18 central hospital districts in Finland.