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Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses
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Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses

Published on: August 30, 2018

Antimicrobial prescription errors in hospitalized children: role of antimicrobial stewardship program in detection

M Cecilia Di Pentima1, Shannon Chan, Stephen C Eppes

  • 1Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Nemours Children's Clinic, Wilmington, Delaware 19803, USA. cdipenti@nemours.org

Clinical Pediatrics
|February 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) effectively reduced antimicrobial prescription errors in hospitalized children. This strategy ensures appropriate antibiotic use, improving patient outcomes and minimizing resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Hospital Pharmacy and Therapeutics
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) are crucial for optimizing antibiotic use, improving patient outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs.
  • Effective ASP implementation is vital for combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
  • This study evaluates the impact of an ASP on antimicrobial (AM) prescription errors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effectiveness of an antimicrobial stewardship program in reducing AM prescription errors.
  • To analyze the impact of active surveillance and system optimization on AM prescribing practices in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, single-center study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric teaching hospital.
  • Active monitoring of 13 targeted antimicrobials and microbiology data was performed.
  • The ASP was implemented using CareNet and PharmNet, with interventions guided by an infectious disease physician and pharmacist.

Main Results:

  • A total of 5564 dispensed prescriptions for 13 targeted AMs were screened.
  • The rate of AM errors was found to be 0.09 per 1000 doses administered.
  • An incidence of 5 AM errors per 1000 patient days was recorded.

Conclusions:

  • Active surveillance combined with an optimized computerized physician order entry system facilitates early detection of AM prescription errors.
  • This approach enables timely intervention, significantly reducing AM prescription errors in hospitalized children.
  • The findings underscore the importance of robust ASPs in pediatric settings to ensure safe and effective antimicrobial use.
Abstract

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