Evaluation of Oritavancin Use at a Community Hospital

Background: Oritavancin is a lipoglycopeptide antibiotic indicated for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections. The prolonged half-life of this agent allows for a course of therapy to be completed with a single dose. Oritavancin was added to our formulary as an option for treatment of acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infection to reduce admission and length of stay. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether oritavancin is used appropriately at our hospital and to evaluate the impact to the institution. Methods: A retrospective and concurrent chart review was performed on all patients who had received oritavancin within our health system between June 2015 and December 2016. The primary endpoint was to determine the appropriateness of oritavancin use. Secondary endpoints include documenting readmission rates for patients prescribed oritavancin and assessing potential financial benefits to the institution. Results: In the 67 patients identified, 51 (76%) patients received oritavancin for an appropriate indication. Orders from infectious disease physicians constituted 81% of inappropriate cases of oritavancin use. No patients who received oritavancin required readmission within 14 days of therapy. The estimated potential financial benefit to our institution when using oritavancin to prevent hospital admissions was $653,451. Conclusions: The majority of oritavancin use at our institution is appropriate according to indication. Oritavancin offers an outpatient option for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections with the potential to decrease hospital cost by reducing admissions and length of stay.