Study on daptomycin use and implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program

Treatment of Gram-positive pathogens remains a major health issue due to the presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus spp. Daptomycin offers an alternative after therapeutic failure using glycopeptides. Yet its use requires strict control given its financial impact and environmental risks. Since 2014, the use of daptomycin within our hospital has intensified, occasionally outside the scope of its approved indications.

The aim of this study is to analyze the appropriateness of daptomycin prescriptions.

This work was conducted in a 1500-bed University Hospital.

A descriptive retrospective study was conducted from November 2013 to July 2014. All patients having received at least 2 days of treatment were included. Analysis of the appropriateness of daptomycin prescriptions was conducted by a multidisciplinary team comprised of infectious diseases specialists, pharmacists and a microbiologist. The appropriateness of daptomycin prescriptions was established based on Infectious Diseases Society of America recommendations published in 2011.

The indicators chosen to determine appropriateness of prescription were: treatment indication, prescribed dose and other antibiotics associated with the daptomycin prescription.

19 patients (14 men/5 women) were included. Observed indications were: bone and joint infection (n = 6; 32 %), infectious endocarditis (n = 5; 26 %), bacteremia (n = 5; 26 %) and complicated skin and soft tissue infection (n = 3; 16 %). Identified pathogens were: MRSA (n = 14; 74 %), methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (n = 4; 21 %) and Streptococcus mitis (n = 1; 5 %). Daptomycin was prescribed as first-line treatment in 32 % of cases (n = 6). The mean dosage was 9 mg/kg/day (5-11 mg/kg/day) for a mean duration of 11 days (2; 55 days). Clinical success was observed in 42 % of cases (n = 8). Appropriateness for daptomycin use was only established for 15 % of prescriptions (n = 3).

Faced with a lack of recent recommendations on the subject, our multidisciplinary team issued a local consensus, defining the indications and dosage modalities for this reserve antibiotic. This multidisciplinary approach enables improved use of recent anti-MRSA drugs.