Rotation of antibiotics: a strategy to alleviate resistance

Abstract

The review results of two important topics, antibiotic resistance
and antibiotics rotation are presented, considering the levels reached by the
resistance and the necessity of searching for strategies in order to decrease
their consequences. One of the principal problems that affect the population
as to public health is the resistance to antibiotics. This is due to the overuse
of antibiotics during the last 50 years, as well as the alarm propagation of the
antibiotic resistant bacteria. The cycling rotation of antibiotics is a strategy
which consists of the suspension of the use of a type or class of antimicrobial
agent during a predefined time period switched to another and reintroduced
at a later time. This strategy attempts to reduce the selective pressure of the
suppressed antibiotic and to decrease the emergency of resistance toward the
cycled antibiotics. Multiple studies have been carried out at international level,
in which antibiotic rotation policies have been made, but it is necessary to
standardize a series of aspects such as, the lasting time of studies, variables
to analyze, the choice of antibiotics to recycle, etcetera. When this aim is
achieved, the results of these studies would be generalized. A scheme of
antibiotic rotation for the DIRAMIC 10 system is suggested taking into account
the level of use in pharmacy and incorporates it to the result of the antibiogram
system report.