Epidemiology of vancomycin usage at a children's hospital, 1993 through 1995

Choice of antibiotics in late neonatal sepsis in the extremely low birth weight infant

OBJECTIVE

To review the choice of antibiotics in treating suspected late neonatal sepsis in infants weighing 1000 g or less in a neonatal intensive care unit.

METHODS

Retrospective review of medical records.

RESULTS

Ninety-six infants weighing 1000 g or less were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit during the study period. Sixty-two infants survived beyond four days of life and had at least one sepsis workup done to exclude late neonatal infection. Of the 62 study patients, 42 (68%) were started on ampicillin and netilmicin (A/N) and 20 (32%) were started on vancomycin and ceftizoxime (V/C) as the antibiotics of choice, pending culture results. Of the patients started on A/N, 17 of 42 had a positive blood culture compared with 11 of 20 on V/C (40% versus 55%, P=0.40). The mean (+/-SD) birth weight of infants started on A/N was 793+/-133 g compared with a mean of 728+/-153 g in the group that received V/C (P=0.09). Seven patients died in the A/N group compared with three in the V/C group (16.7% versus 15%, P=0.84). In addition to the sepsis episode studied, before they were discharged from hospital, 21 of 42 (50%) infants in the A/N group had further workups for suspected sepsis, compared with 16 of 20 (80%) (P=0.048) infants initially given V/C.

CONCLUSIONS

Ampicillin and netilmicin is a safe antibiotic combination for neonates suspected of late sepsis. This, in turn, may be important in reducing vancomycin overuse and the potential for bacterial resistance to this antimicrobial agent.

Drug use density in critically ill children and newborns: analysis of various methodologies

OBJECTIVE

To compare in the pediatric, cardiac, and neonatal intensive care units, three methods of assessing vancomycin and linezolid drug use density by number of: defined daily doses (DDDs), prescribed daily doses, and days of drug use per 100 patient days.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

A tertiary care children's hospital.

PATIENTS

We reviewed the charts of patients admitted to the cardiac intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit in 2005 who were treated with vancomycin, and those admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit who were treated with vancomycin or linezolid during 2004 and 2005.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The number of patients, treatment days, total amount of vancomycin/linezolid, total intensive care unit admissions, and patient days were recorded. We used the World Health Organization definition of DDD for vancomycin and linezolid (2000 and 1200 mg, respectively). The prescribed daily dose for each intensive care unit was calculated for each year by dividing the total amount of the medication administered by the total number of treatment days. The drug use densities were then calculated as the total DDDs, prescribed daily doses, and days of drug use per 100 patient days. The vancomycin use densities were significantly different among the three intensive care units when compared by each method. They were significantly lower in all three units when expressed as DDDs per 100 patient days. The vancomycin drug use density in the pediatric intensive care unit was significantly decreased during 2005 compared with 2004 by all three methods.

CONCLUSIONS

In critically ill children, drug use density of vancomycin is significantly less when evaluated by the DDD method compared with the prescribed daily dose method, a more appropriate method in children. However, the simplest and most accurate method of assessing drug use density is the number of days of drug use method, which allows comparison of drug use density between different pediatric facilities or clinical units.

Off-label and unlicensed drug utilization in hospitalized children in Fortaleza, Brazil

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the use of drugs, the extent and pattern of unlicensed and off-label use, and the potential relationship between off-label drug use and adverse drug reactions in northeastern Brazil.

METHODS

A follow-up study of drug utilization in a general ward of a pediatric reference hospital, involving patients hospitalized for more than 24 h. Prescriptions and medical records were reviewed daily from August to December 2001. Drug licensing status of all prescriptions given to these patients was determined.

RESULTS

A total of 272 patients were admitted during the study, 265 (97.4%) of whom received one or more drugs. The median number of drugs/patient was 6 (1-18), and the most frequent diagnosis was pneumonia (29.4% of patients). The therapeutic class most prescribed was anti-infectives for systemic use (68.8% of all children). In all, 82.6% of children received at least one unlicensed or off-label drug, and 17% received both an unlicensed and an off-label drug. Dose/frequency was the most common form of off-label drug use. Off-label drug use was significantly associated with adverse drug reactions (relative risk 2.44; 95% CI 2.12, 2.89).

CONCLUSIONS

Although off-label drug use is a complex issue and is not synonymous with inappropriate drug use, a high rate of unlicensed/off-label drug use was found and was also associated with an increased risk of adverse drug reactions. More efforts are needed to increase rational drug use in children.

Nosocomial infection in a neonatal intensive care unit: a prospective study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

We performed a prospective analysis to determine the prevalence of nosocomial infection and associated risk factors in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

METHODS

Data were collected prospectively on underlying diagnoses, therapeutic interventions/treatments, infections, and outcomes at 9 am every day from November 2004 through October 2005. Prevalence of nosocomial infection and infection site definitions were according to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

RESULTS

Among 528 infants enrolled, 60 (11.4%) had 97 nosocomial infections. The survival rate was 92%. The prevalence of nosocomial infections was 17.5%: bloodstream infection, 4.7%, clinical sepsis, 6.3%, pneumonia, 5.1%, urinary tract infections (UTIs), 0.7%, surgical site infection, 0.7%. Intervention-associated infection rate: central intravascular catheter-associated bloodstream infection, 13.7%, TPN-associated bloodstream infection, 15.8%, ventilator-associated pneumonia, 18.6%, surgical site infection 13.7%, urinary catheter-associated UTI, 17.3%. Cut-off values of onset of central intravascular catheter-associated bloodstream infection and ventilator-associated pneumonia were 6 days and 10 days after intervention, respectively. Patients with a birth weight <1000 g (relative risk, 11.8, 95% confidence interval, 7.66-18.18; P < .001) were at the greatest risk for nosocomial infection.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the high prevalence of nosocomial infections in NICU patients, and the urgent need for a national surveillance and more effective prevention interventions.

Infection control, hospital epidemiology, and patient safety

Health care-acquired are a major risk for hospitalized children. Similar to adult patients, children are vulnerable to infections related to medical devices. Children also are at significant risk of nosocomial transmission of common pediatric viral illness, such as respiratory syncytial virus and varicella. In addition, pediatric patients have unique or incompletely developed immune system.

Vancomycin and home health care

Microbiologic diagnosis before hospital discharge and physician education may limit inappropriate vancomycin use in homecare patients.

The Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee published guidelines for prudent use of vancomycin to combat increasing resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Studies examining compliance with these guidelines primarily involve hospitalized patients. The growing practice of home use of antimicrobial drugs led to this retrospective cohort study that evaluated parenteral vancomycin use in patients receiving it through a homecare agency. We found that 39.2% of outpatients received vancomycin outside the guidelines, mainly because of prolonged empiric therapy, dosing convenience, and prolonged use after surgery. Patients were more likely to receive vancomycin appropriately if they were >65 years of age, had a history of malignancy, or were discharged from a medical service. In addition, obtaining wound cultures and attempting a microbiologic diagnosis led to more appropriate vancomycin use. Recommendations for prudent vancomycin use are often overlooked when selecting antimicrobial drugs for home infusion. The public health impact of this practice remains unknown.

Use of antimicrobial agents in United States neonatal and pediatric intensive care patients

OBJECTIVE

Antimicrobial use contributes to the development of emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria among intensive care unit (ICU) patients. There are few published data on antimicrobial use in neonatal (NICU) and pediatric ICU (PICU) patients.

METHODS

Personnel at 31 Pediatric Prevention Network hospitals participated in point prevalence surveys on August 4, 1999 (summer) and February 8, 2000 (winter). Data collected for all NICU and PICU inpatients included demographics, antimicrobials and indications for use and therapeutic interventions.

RESULTS

Data were reported for 2647 patients in 29 NICUs (827 patients in summer; 753 in winter) and 35 PICUs (512 patients in summer; 555 in winter). PICU patients were more likely than NICU patients to be receiving antimicrobials on the survey date [758 of 1070 (70.8%) versus 684 of 1582 (43.2%), P < 0.0001]. NICU patients were receiving a higher median number of antimicrobials (2 versus 1, P < 0.0001). The most common agents among NICU patients were gentamicin, ampicillin and vancomycin; the most common agents among PICU patients were cefazolin, vancomycin and cefotaxime. Use of aminoglycosides, aminopenicillins and topical antibacterials was significantly more common in NICU patients; first, second and third generation cephalosporins, extended spectrum penicillins, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, antianaerobic agents, systemic antifungals and systemic antivirals were more common in PICU patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first U.S. national multicenter description of antimicrobial use in NICUs and PICUs and demonstrates the high prevalence of antimicrobial use among these patients. Assessment strategies targeting antimicrobial use in pediatrics are needed.

Device-related infections in children

Management of device-related infections includes device removal for some catheter-related bloodstream infections and all ventriculoperitoneal shunt-related infections. The isolation of certain organisms (eg, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida spp) in children with central catheters should prompt consideration of disseminated infection. Future research may determine the impact of increasing catheter use in non-intensive care hospital settings and in home care. New technologies, such as antimicrobial-impregnated central venous catheters and ventricular shunts, show promise in reducing the infection rates of these devices.

Prevention and treatment of nosocomial sepsis in the NICU

Nosocomial sepsis is a serious problem for neonates who are admitted for intensive care. It is associated with an increase in mortality, morbidity, and prolonged length of hospital stay. Thus, both the human and fiscal costs of these infections are high. Although the rate of nosocomial sepsis increases with the degree of both prematurity and low birth weight, no specific lab test has been shown to be very useful in improving our ability to predict who has a "real" blood-stream infection and, therefore, who needs to be treated with a full course of antibiotics. As a result, antibiotic use is double the rate of "proven" sepsis and we are facilitating the growth of resistant organisms in the neonatal intensive care unit. The purpose of this article is to describe simple changes in process, which when implemented, can reduce nosocomial infection rates in neonates and improve outcomes.

Vancomycin

This review describes the use of vancomycin in neonates over the last three decades. Given the relation of late-onset neonatal septicaemia to outcome and the increase in coagulase-negative staphylococcal infection as causative organism, vancomycin remains an important antibacterial in the neonatal intensive care unit. The pharmacokinetic behaviour of vancomycin in neonates can be adequately described by a one- or two-compartment model and is mainly determined by postconceptional age and renal function. In neonates, a patent ductus arteriosus as well as treatment with indomethacin or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) leads to an increase in volume of distribution and a decrease in clearance. Microbiological studies in vitro have shown that an increase in vancomycin concentrations above the minimum inhibitory concentration does not result in more effective killing. The microbiological and clinical efficacy of vancomycin in neonates has only been studied explicitly in a restricted number of patients. There are no definitive data relating serum concentrations to effect in this patient group. Vancomycin-related nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity in neonates is rare, and no clear relation to serum concentrations has been demonstrated. Based on the pharmacokinetic profile of vancomycin in neonates, several administration regimens have been constructed. Recent guidelines have suggested that dosage can be independent of gestational age or postconceptional age in neonates without renal failure. In patients with renal failure, therapy can be adequately tailored by using a regimen based on serum creatinine. The usefulness of routine monitoring of peak serum concentrations is doubtful based on the current literature. Recent research demonstrates a shift towards taking only routine trough serum concentrations in order to optimise efficacy. Patients with renal failure and other special subpopulations, such as patients exposed to ECMO or indomethacin, need to be monitored more closely.

Controlling healthcare-associated infections: the role of infection control and antimicrobial use practices

Healthcare-associated infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients in the United States and throughout the world. Overall rates of infection range widely depending on the pediatric population, with the highest rates being in patients in neonatal intensive care units, followed by those in pediatric intensive care units, immunocompromised patients, and those undergoing surgical procedures. Risk factors for healthcare-associated infection include intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The major intrinsic factors are age, birth weight, underlying diseases, and immune status. The major extrinsic factors are presence of invasive devices and procedures. The major risk factors for healthcare-associated infection caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens are either the transmission of pathogens from person to person (directly or indirectly, usually via the hands of healthcare workers) or the emergence of resistance after exposure to antimicrobials. Preventing healthcare-associated infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant pathogens requires a comprehensive approach that includes: 1) preventing infections through the use of vaccines and prophylaxis; 2) minimizing the use of invasive devices; 3) understanding and fully implementing (and complying with) current guideline recommendations for the prevention of infections; and 4) using antimicrobials judiciously. Implementing such a comprehensive program will reduce healthcare-associated infections, reduce the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, improve patient outcomes, and reduce health care costs.

Linezolid versus vancomycin in the treatment of known or suspected resistant gram-positive infections in neonates

BACKGROUND

Gram-positive infections caused by susceptible and resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and enterococci are increasing problems in neonates. Linezolid, a new oxazolidinone, is active against these pathogens and has recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating Gram-positive infections in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous and oral linezolid with vancomycin (10 to 15 mg/kg every 6 to 24 h) in neonates (age 0 to 90 days).

METHODS

Hospitalized infants with known or suspected hospital-acquired pneumonia, complicated skin or skin structure infections, bacteremia or other infections (e.g. pyelonephritis, abdominal abscess) were eligible. Test-of-cure clinical response was evaluated at follow-up.

RESULTS

Sixty-three neonates, randomized 2:1 to linezolid (n = 43) or vancomycin (n = 20) were included in the intent-to-treat group. Clinical cure rates at follow-up in the intent-to-treat group were higher, but not significantly different, for linezolid vs. vancomycin (78% vs. 61%; P = 0.196). Corresponding cure rates in clinically evaluable patients were 84% vs. 77% (P = 0.553) for linezolid and vancomycin, respectively. Pathogen eradication rates were as follows in the linezolid and vancomycin groups, respectively: S. aureus (67% vs. 60%; P = 0.850); coagulase-negative staphylococci (88% vs. 100%; P = 0.379); and enterococci (71% vs. 0%; P = 0.168). Results for hematology and chemistry assays were similar between treatment groups. Fewer linezolid-treated neonates had drug-related adverse events than vancomycin-treated neonates (12% vs. 32%; P = 0.058).

CONCLUSIONS

Linezolid is well-tolerated and as effective as vancomycin in the treatment of resistant Gram-positive infections in neonates.

Vancomycin use in hospitalized pediatric patients

OBJECTIVES

To assess vancomycin utilization at children's hospitals, to determine risk factors for vancomycin use and length of therapy, and to facilitate adapting recommendations to optimize vancomycin prescribing practices in pediatric patients.

METHODS

Two surveys were conducted at Pediatric Prevention Network hospitals. The first (Survey I) evaluated vancomycin control programs. The second (Survey II) prospectively reviewed individual patient records. Each hospital was asked to complete questionnaires on 25 consecutive patients or all patients for whom vancomycin was prescribed during a 1-month period.

RESULTS

In Survey I, 55 of 65 (85%) hospitals reported their vancomycin control policies. Three quarters had specific policies in place to restrict vancomycin use. One half had at least 3 vancomycin restriction measures. In Survey II, personnel at 22 hospitals reviewed 416 vancomycin courses, with 2 to 25 (median = 12) patients tracked per hospital. Eighty-two percent of the vancomycin prescribed was for treatment of neonatal sepsis, fever/neutropenia, fever of unknown origin, positive blood culture, pneumonia, or meningitis. In an additional 6% (26/416), vancomycin was prescribed for patients with beta-lactam allergies and in 13% (56/416) for prophylaxis. Median duration of prophylaxis was 2 days (range: 1-15 days). Almost half (196, 47%) of the patients who received vancomycin were in intensive care units; 27% of the vancomycin courses were initiated by neonatologists and 19% by hematologists/oncologists. The predominant risk factor at the time of vancomycin initiation was the presence of vascular catheters (322, 77%); other host factors included cancer chemotherapy (55, 13%), transplant (30, 7%), shock (24, 6%), other immunosuppressant therapy (17, 4%), or hyposplenic state (2, <1%). Other clinical considerations were severity of illness (96, 23%), uncertainty about diagnosis (51, 12%), patient not responding to current antibiotic therapy (40, 10%), or implant infection (13, 3%). When vancomycin was initiated, blood cultures were positive in 85 patients (20%); cultures from other sites were positive in 45 (11%), and Gram stains of body fluids were positive in 37 (9%). In 29 (7%) patients, organisms sensitive only to vancomycin were isolated before vancomycin initiation. Reasons for discontinuing vancomycin included: therapeutic course completed (125, 30%), negative cultures (106, 25%), alternative antibiotics initiated (75, 18%), illness resolved (14, 3%), or patient expired (13, 3%). Final results of blood culture isolates resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics included 48 coagulase-negative staphylococcus, 5 Staphylococcus aureus, and 10 other species.

CONCLUSIONS

At children's hospitals, vancomycin is initiated for therapy in patients who have vascular catheters and compromised host factors. Only 7% had laboratory-confirmed beta-lactam-resistant organisms isolated at the time vancomycin was prescribed. Efforts to modify empiric vancomycin use in children's hospitals should be targeted at intensivists, neonatologists, and hematologists. Initiatives to decrease length of therapy by decreasing the number of surgical prophylaxis doses and days of therapy before laboratory results may decrease vancomycin exposure.

A comparison of two versus one blood culture in the diagnosis and treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococcus in the neonatal intensive care unit

OBJECTIVES

This study compares two versus one blood culture in the diagnosis and treatment of coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CONS) in babies with suspected sepsis.

STUDY DESIGN

The study was performed at British Columbia's Children's Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between March 1999 to March 2000. One hundred pairs of cultures were drawn from two percutaneous sites from babies more than 48 hours old at the time of a sepsis screen. CONS cultured from both sites was regarded as evidence of infection. Positive culture from only one of the two sites was regarded as contaminant. The difference in rates of diagnosed CONS infection and reduction in antibiotic usage when using two versus one blood culture was calculated.

RESULTS

In 5% of babies, cultures from a second site did not substantiate the diagnosis of CONS when compared to the result from a single culture. The resultant reduction in antibiotic use was 8.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

Two blood cultures reduce the number of children diagnosed with CONS infection and reduce antibiotic usage.

Does the empiric use of vancomycin in pediatrics increase the risk for Gram-negative bacteremia?

BACKGROUND

Gram-negative bacteremia in children, a major cause of morbidity and mortality, may in part be induced by intensive treatment procedures and nonspecific use of antibiotics. Our primary objective was to study the causal relationship between the use of vancomycin and Gram-negative bacteremia, for which this antibiotic is not specifically indicated.

METHODS

The study was conducted in a 105-bed tertiary care children's hospital in the period of 1994 to 1997. The study pertains to a cohort of children with suspected bacteremia, in whom a blood culture was performed during hospital stay. Using the bacteriologic laboratory registration system, we selected all pediatric cases with bacteriologically proved Gram-negative bacteremia (n = 105) and a random sample of 225 pediatric controls with negative blood cultures. Using logistic regression analysis we examined associations between Gram-negative bacteremia and the following factors: preceding use of antibiotics, antacids, corticosteroids, surgery, mechanical ventilation, parenteral nutrition, and invasive instrumentation; and the intensity of care assessed with the Therapeutic Intensity Scoring System (TISS 28).

RESULTS

Gram-negative bacteremia was positively associated with the use of aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, surgical interventions, central venous catheters, parenteral nutrition, antacids and dexamethasone. The strongest association was with the use of vancomycin (odds ratio, 8.1; 95% confidence interval, 3.1 to 20.9). In a multiple logistic regression model containing all above-mentioned variables, the use of vancomycin remained positively and strongly associated with Gram-negative bacteremia (odds ratio, 3.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 11.21). Further adjustments and restrictions in the analysis did not materially change these findings concerning vancomycin.

CONCLUSIONS

Among children suspected of bacteremia there are several drugs and clinical procedures influencing the risk for Gram-negative bacteremia. Empiric use of vancomycin is strongly and independently associated with Gram-negative bacteremia. The safety of using vancomycin solely on the basis of suspicion of bacteremia in children may not be warranted.

Fulminant late-onset sepsis in a neonatal intensive care unit, 1988-1997, and the impact of avoiding empiric vancomycin therapy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the pathogens associated with fulminant (lethal within 48 hours) late-onset sepsis (occurring after 3 days of age) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and the frequency of fulminant late-onset sepsis for the most common pathogens.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted of sepsis in infants in a NICU over a 10-year period (1988-1997).

RESULTS

There were 825 episodes of late-onset sepsis occurring in 536 infants. Thirty-four of 49 (69%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 55%-82%) cases of fulminant late-onset sepsis were caused by Gram-negative organisms, including Pseudomonas sp., 20 (42%); Escherichia coli, 5 (10%); Enterobacter sp., 4 (8%); and Klebsiella sp., 4 (8%). The frequency of fulminant sepsis was highest for Pseudomonas sp., 20 of 36 (56%; 95% CI: 38%-72%) and lowest for coagulase-negative staphylococci, 4 of 277 (1%; 95%CI: 0%-4%). The very low frequency of fulminant sepsis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci did not increase during the period when oxacillin was used instead of vancomycin as the empiric antibiotic for Gram-positive organisms.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that empiric antibiotics selected for treatment of suspected sepsis in infants >3 days old need to effectively treat Gram-negative pathogens, particularly Pseudomonas sp., because these organisms, although less frequent, are strongly associated with fulminant late-onset sepsis in the NICU. Avoiding empiric vancomycin therapy seemed to be a reasonable approach to late-onset sepsis, because of the very low frequency of fulminant sepsis caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci.

The Internet: a practical example of the use of new technology in the assessment of vancomycin use in pediatrics. The Pediatric Prevention Network

BACKGROUND

The rapid emergence of both new infections and new technologies has revolutionized health care during the past 50 years. Increased use of the Internet has enabled health care professionals to educate, interact, and collaborate throughout the world in ways never before possible. Increased use of vancomycin has been associated with the emergence of organisms with decreased susceptibility to vancomycin, such as Enterococcus and staphylococcal species. The purpose of this article is to describe our experience using Internet technology to assess vancomycin use at children's hospitals in the United States.

METHODS

A Web-based evaluation was developed and distributed on the Internet to 57 Pediatric Prevention Network hospitals. The evaluation was structured to collect summary statistics on vancomycin use and admissions data by service for 1997 and 1998.

RESULTS

Twenty-four hospitals were able to provide archived vancomycin use and patient admissions data; completed evaluations were returned from 15 hospitals (62.5% response rate). Personnel at 6 (40%) hospitals completed the evaluation directly on the Internet.

CONCLUSIONS

In our study, Internet technology facilitated a more efficient evaluation of vancomycin use, but fewer than half of the personnel at Pediatric Prevention Network hospitals completed the evaluation directly on the Internet. It is unclear whether personnel at these hospitals were limited in Internet access, support, or understanding. Efforts should be directed to educate health care personnel on the advantages of the Internet. Furthermore, many of the pharmacy databases used in our assessment were not standardized across hospitals nor systematically validated. Understanding that limitations still remain-within the source of the data studied, the health care system sampled, and the Internet tools available-is essential because the Internet offers health care professionals today a tool both to protect patients and to improve quality throughout the world.

Knowledge of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the use of vancomycin at a large tertiary care children's hospital

OBJECTIVE

In 1994, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines to encourage prudent use of vancomycin. We sought to determine whether physicians could demonstrate knowledge consistent with the guidelines.

DESIGN

Survey consisting of 18 clinical vignettes based on the CDC guidelines.

PARTICIPANTS

All residents, fellows, and attending physicians involved in pediatric inpatient services.

SETTING

Tertiary care children's hospital providing service to an inner-city population and community referral base.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Comparison of survey scores and individual responses among respondents.

RESULTS

Survey scores did not vary with level of training or whether the respondent was a pediatrician or non-pediatrician. Average scores of attending physicians, fellows, and residents were 74.1% (SD = 13.1), 77.2% (SD = 11.5), and 73.4% (SD = 10.5), respectively, and did not differ significantly. Questions incorrectly answered by more than 30% of respondents concerned the use of vancomycin as: (1) first-line treatment of Clostridium difficile colitis, (2) a topical solution for wound infection, (3) initial, empiric treatment of patients with fever and neutropenia, (4) peri-operative prophylaxis, (5) a preferred agent over beta-lactam antimicrobial agents.

CONCLUSION

Deficits in knowledge regarding appropriate vancomycin use can be localized to certain clinical settings. This observation lends optimism to the notion that targeted educational intervention may improve the appropriate use of vancomycin.

Vancomycin use in pediatric hematology-oncology patients

Across-sectional study was performed of pediatric hematology-oncology patients who received vancomycin; use was compared to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations for vancomycin use. Thirty-seven patients received 308 doses of vancomycin. AR patients initially received vancomycin as empirical therapy; 100% of this use was not consistent with the CDC recommendations.

Vancomycin use in pediatric neurosurgery patients

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this article is to describe a pediatric neurosurgery patient population receiving vancomycin and examine the indications for and appropriateness of vancomycin use.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was performed on the pediatric neurosurgery patients at Egleston Children's Hospital who received vancomycin from January 1 through December 31, 1996. Vancomycin use was compared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee recommendations for vancomycin use.

RESULTS

Thirty patients received 115 doses of vancomycin. The median patient age was 8.0 years, and 17 (56.7%) were male. Vancomycin was used for prophylaxis in 28 (93.3%) patients and empiric therapy in 3 (10.0%) patients; one patient received vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis followed by empiric therapy for suspected meningitis. Vancomycin prophylaxis was initiated after the incision in 6 (21.4%) patients and was continued as prophylaxis for more than one dose in 26 (92.9%) patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Vancomycin was used primarily as surgical prophylaxis in pediatric neurosurgery patients, and use was not consistent with the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee recommendations. These data suggest that for certain subpopulations, such as pediatric neurosurgery patients, there is a need for more specialized recommendations. Furthermore, prudent vancomycin use is warranted to successfully decrease the risk of further emergence of vancomycin resistance. Because vancomycin use may be prevalent in this population, assessment of vancomycin use in pediatric neurosurgery patients followed by establishment of vancomycin clinical guidelines may help improve the appropriateness of vancomycin use in this population.

Positive blood cultures for coagulase-negative staphylococci in neonates: does highly selective vancomycin usage affect outcome?

The implication of highly-selective vancomycin usage on the outcome for infants with positive blood cultures for coagulase-negative staphylococci (CONS) was assessed retrospectively. The analysis was performed on partly prospective collected data from infants under 3 months of age with a least one CONS-positive blood culture in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Soroka University Medical Center between 1990 and 1996. During the study period, 239 episodes of CONS-positive blood cultures were identified from among 64,226 live births (3.7 per 1,000). Vancomycin was administered in 22 (9%) episodes, in all cases only after identification of the bacteria. The remaining 217 episodes were managed either without antibiotics or with continuation or initiation of empiric antibiotic therapy (usually ceftazidime +/- ampicillin) for suspected sepsis. Severity of the initial illness, subsequent morbidity and mortality were low regardless of the treatment administered. Only a single case of a blood-borne vancomycin resistant gram-positive organism was observed during the study period. The approach to CONS-positive blood cultures in neonates used here was associated with low morbidity and mortality. These findings support a policy of highly selective vancomycin usage in an era of emerging vancomycin resistance.