Controlling antibiotic resistance in the ICU: different bacteria, different strategies.

To reduce antimicrobial resistance in the intensive care unit, hospitals are developing strategies such as improving infection control, adhering to prescribed formularies, requiring prior approval for using certain antibiotics, setting limits on the duration of antimicrobial therapy, and rotating the use of antimicrobial drugs on a regular schedule. Each strategy has theoretical benefits and limitations, but good data on their efficacy in controlling antimicrobial resistance are limited.