Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract and Subsequent Antibiotic Resistance

Selective decontamination of the digestive tract and oropharynx is known to eradicate gram-negative bacteria from the intestinal and respiratory tracts, but questions remain about how these interventions might affect antibiotic resistance.

In the present study, investigators analyzed the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in 13 intensive care units (ICUs) that were participating in a randomized, crossover trial comparing selective digestive tract decontamination, selective oropharyngeal decontamination, and standard care (JW Infect Dis Jan 7 2009). The decontamination regimens consisted of tobramycin, polymyxin E, and amphotericin B, applied to the oropharynx only or administered via nasogastric tube, depending on the site of intervention. …