Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2025

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii
09:17

A Robust Pneumonia Model in Immunocompetent Rodents to Evaluate Antibacterial Efficacy against S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa or A. baumannii

Published on: January 2, 2017

14.8K

Development of Antimicrobial Defined Daily Dose (DDD) for the Pediatric Population

Elena Montecatine-Alonso1, Marta Mejías-Trueba1,2, Walter Alfredo Goycochea-Valdivia3

  • 1Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocio, 41013 Seville, Spain.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study establishes pediatric-specific Defined Daily Doses (DDD) for antimicrobial consumption, crucial for evaluating antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in children. The new DDDs provide a global indicator for analyzing antimicrobial use and ASP effectiveness in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Public Health Indicators

Background:

  • Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are vital for optimizing antimicrobial use and combating resistance.
  • The World Health Organization's Defined Daily Dose (DDD) is a standard metric for antimicrobial consumption but lacks pediatric adaptation.
  • Accurate pediatric-specific metrics are needed to effectively assess ASP performance in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish appropriate pediatric Defined Daily Dose (DDD) values for common antimicrobials.
  • To develop a reliable indicator for assessing antimicrobial consumption in pediatric populations.
  • To support the evaluation of antimicrobial stewardship programs in children.

Main Methods:

  • An observational, retrospective, multicenter study analyzed 4788 antimicrobial prescriptions from seven Spanish tertiary hospitals over two years.
  • Pediatric DDDs were calculated and compared against pre-defined theoretical values.
  • Selection criteria included power value, magnitude of difference, statistical significance, and agreement in stipulated doses.

Main Results:

  • Pediatric DDDs were successfully defined for 30 different antimicrobials.
  • A potency exceeding 80% was achieved for 24 of these antibiotics.
  • The majority of selected DDDs aligned with established phases (51.2% Phase I, 39.5% Phase II).

Conclusions:

  • This study successfully defined pediatric DDDs, offering a globally applicable indicator for antimicrobial consumption.
  • These new DDD values will enhance the assessment of antimicrobial stewardship programs' effectiveness in pediatric settings.
  • The findings facilitate standardized global analysis of antimicrobial use and ASP efficacy in children.

Keywords:
antimicrobial stewardship programantimicrobialsdefined daily dose (DDD)pediatric

More Related Videos

Multiplex Therapeutic Drug Monitoring by Isotope-dilution HPLC-MS/MS of Antibiotics in Critical Illnesses11:17

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

Published on: August 30, 2018

13.0K
A Reference Broth Microdilution Method for Dalbavancin In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Bacteria that Grow Aerobically11:28

A Reference Broth Microdilution Method for Dalbavancin In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Bacteria that Grow Aerobically

Published on: September 9, 2015

29.1K

Related Concept Videos

Rational Dosage Regimen: Maintenance Dose and Loading Dose01:24

Rational Dosage Regimen: Maintenance Dose and Loading Dose

A rational dosage regimen considers a drug's pharmacokinetics, including its absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination from the body. By understanding these factors, the appropriate dosage can be determined, and the dosing schedule can be designed to achieve and maintain the desired therapeutic effect while minimizing adverse effects.
In most cases, drugs are administered repetitively or infused continuously to maintain a steady-state concentration in the body. At a steady...
4.2K
Dosage Regimen: Fixed Dose01:01

Dosage Regimen: Fixed Dose

Fixed-dose regimens are a common approach to administer drugs to achieve and maintain desired levels of the drug in the body. In this dosing strategy, a specific amount of medication is given at regular intervals, often multiple times a day, to ensure a consistent drug concentration in the bloodstream.
Fixed-dose regimens can be used for various routes of administration, including intravenous (IV) injections and oral medications. For IV administration, a predetermined amount of the drug is...
1.9K
Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview01:21

Factors Affecting Drug Response: Overview

When it comes to infants and young children, they are typically administered smaller doses of medication in comparison to adults. This is primarily because their organ functions still need to fully develop, meaning their bodies are not as efficient at metabolizing or eliminating drugs. Additionally, their blood-brain barrier is more permeable than in adults. As a result, high concentrations of drugs can easily penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), potentially leading to neurological...
2.0K
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
107
Drug Dosage Regimen: Overview01:15

Drug Dosage Regimen: Overview

A drug dosage regimen describes the specific instructions and schedule for administering a drug to a patient. It considers factors such as drug dosage, frequency, route of administration, and duration of treatment. Designing an appropriate dosage regimen for a patient aims to achieve a target drug concentration at the site of action.
Typically, the starting dose and dosing interval are guided by the manufacturer's recommendations based on clinical trials conducted during and after drug...
3.7K
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
59