Antimicrobial use and opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship in pediatric postacute and long-term care settings

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Infectious Disease Management
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Pediatric postacute and long-term care (pPALTC) facilities present unique challenges for antimicrobial use.
• Effective antimicrobial stewardship is crucial in vulnerable pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the point prevalence of antimicrobial prescriptions in pediatric postacute and long-term care settings.
• To identify common indications and types of antimicrobials prescribed.
• To highlight opportunities for antimicrobial stewardship.

Main Methods:

• A point-prevalence study was conducted across 9 pediatric postacute and long-term care facilities.
• Data collection focused on resident antimicrobial prescriptions and their indications.

Main Results:

• Antimicrobials were prescribed for 5%-7% of residents.
• Indications included infectious (41%), noninfectious (24%), prophylaxis (24%), and unknown (11%).
• Macrolides were frequently prescribed for noninfectious indications.

Conclusions:

• Significant antimicrobial use occurs in pPALTC settings, with notable use for noninfectious conditions.
• Development of specific treatment guidelines represents a key antimicrobial stewardship opportunity.
• Targeted interventions are needed to optimize antimicrobial prescribing in pPALTC.