Presentation from the 3rd Joint Meeting of the Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections (ARHAI) Networks, organised by the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control - Stockholm, 11-13 February 2015

1. 3rd Joint Meeting of the Antimicrobial Resistance and
Healthcare-Associated Infections (ARHAI) Networks
Narrow & broad spectrum antibiotics
Arno Muller (Contractor to ECDC), Klaus Weist for the
ARHAI Programme, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Stockholm, 11‒13 February 2015
Organised jointly with

2. Background
In ESAC-Net, we use the terms narrow & broad spectrum:
• From a technical point of view when we present the consumption data for
penicillins (more precisely for the ATC group J01CE) and when we present the
quality indicators (J01_BN)
• From a general point of view when we discuss prudent use of antibiotics.
A possible issue on broad and narrow spectrum definitions was raised last year by
Hege Blix Salvesen when the latest ESAC-Net report was sent to MS for comments:
• “Is there a scientific definition of broad and narrow antibiotics?”
• “We, in Norway, consider beta-lactamase sensitive penicillin as narrow spectrum
and amoxicillin as broad spectrum already. But it might be that amoxicillin is
considered as narrow spectrum antibiotic in other countries”

3. J01_BN Quality indicator
Definition:
Ratio of the consumption of broad-{J01[CR+DC+DD+(F-
FA01)]} to the consumption of narrow-spectrum penicillins,
cephalosporins and macrolides [J01(CE+DB+FA01)]

4. Questions - Brainstorming
• ECDC is in concern that the definition of broad- and narrow-
spectrum antibiotics might differ significantly between
countries.
• Do the MS agree on the current usage of narrow- and
broad-spectrums antibiotics in ESAC-Net
communication/publication?
• In each MS what is considered as narrow-spectrum
antibiotics?
• Could we have a common definition for EU? Compromise?