Using the exhaustion-pad-dry-rinse method, chitosan was applied to alkaline-scoured and bleached cotton yarns in a solution with concentrations ranging from 0.2–1% to achieve good antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) and Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive). Studied samples were also assessed by measuring the amount of introduced chitosan, amount of accessible amino groups, mechanical properties, whiteness index and the b* colour coordinate. Alkaline-scoured and bleached cotton yarns treated with all concentrations of the chitosan solution showed good antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Better antimicrobial activity was achieved against Escherichia coli. Increasing the concentration of chitosan solution deteriorated the mechanical properties of chitosan-treated cotton yarns. The optimal concentration of chitosan solution incorporated in the exhaustion phase to obtain chitosan-treated yarns with good antimicrobial activity and mechanical properties was 0.6%. The best antimicrobial treatment should minimise potential economic costs while providing functionality.

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BACKGROUND: The misuse and overuse of antibiotics contribute to the development of antimicrobial residence. Official data in EU/ EEA in 2017 in the hospital sector suggested that the consumption is lowest in the Netherlands, with 1 DDD per 1,000 inhabitants/day in comparison with Finland, with 2.8 DDD/TID. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyze data on the scope and structure of the antibiotic prescription in pediatric patients at University Children’s Hospital for period of 3 months in 2018 and 2019. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data for antibiotic consumption were obtained from a hospital pharmacy, which are ordinated to hospitalized patients. RESULTS: The total amount of utilized antibacterial drugs with ATC code J01 for first quarter in 2018 is 33.65 DDD/100BD in comparison to the first quarter of 2019 when it declined to 32.09 DDD/100BD. The most consummated antibiotics in the first trimester of both years were the group of cephalosporins, especially the 3rd- and 4th-generation parenteral cephalosporins with from 16.96 to 19.25 DDD/100BD in the evaluated period. Decrease of penicillin’s, carbapenems, macrolides and quinolones were confirmed in the analyzed period. The most commonly used drugs remain ceftriaxone – 13.49 DDD/100BD in 2018 and increased to 14.41 DDD/100BD in 2019, followed by amikacin 3.21 DDD/100BD in 2018 and increased to 3.50 DDD/100BD in 2019 but azithromycin consumption significantly declined from 1.97 DDD/100BD to 0.81 DDD/100BD administered orally. The third most commonly utilized antibiotic in first quarter of 2019 become meropenem, antimicrobial drug from the group of carbapenems with 2.71 DDD/100BD. CONCLUSION: The benefits of monitoring the antibiotic prescribed pattern are critical due to the fact that they provide adequate data on consumption of antibiotics and adherence to guidelines.