Optimizing β-lactam antibiotics with the highest concentration–for continuous infusion reduce carbon footprint in intensive care
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By
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Chloé Gisbert-Mora
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Sandra Sablé
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Quentin Fossé
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Marc Olivier Vareil
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Nicolas Massart
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Hadrien Rozé
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July 4, 2026
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Clinical Scorecard: Enhancing Continuous Infusion of β-lactam Antibiotics to Minimize Carbon Footprint in Intensive Care Settings
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | β-lactam antibiotic administration |
| Key Mechanisms | Continuous infusion of β-lactam antibiotics with optimized drug dilutions to reduce environmental impact. |
| Target Population | Critically-ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). |
| Care Setting | Intensive care settings. |
Key Highlights
- Implementation of a sustainable protocol reduced GHG emissions by 52%.
- Total nursing time for preparation decreased by 145 hours.
- Treatment costs reduced by 48% after protocol implementation.
- No difference in ICU length of stay or mortality between periods.
- Significant reduction in plastic waste (48%) associated with antibiotic administration.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
- Implement a sustainable protocol for continuous infusion of β-lactam antibiotics.
- Optimize drug dilutions to minimize waste and environmental impact.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor puncture sites for central venous catheter (CVC) and peripheral venous catheter (PVC) administration.
Risks
- Potential risk of precipitation with high concentration IV drugs.
Patient & Prescribing Data
418 patients treated in a polyvalent ICU over two periods.
Sustainable antibiotic administration protocols can lead to significant reductions in environmental impact and costs.
Clinical Best Practices
- Favor antibiotic preparations with lower environmental impact.
- Carefully prescribe drug dilutions for continuous infusion.
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