Antimicrobial Defined Daily Dose in Neonatal Population: Validation in the Clinical Practice

Area of Science:

• Neonatal pharmacology
• Clinical pharmacy
• Pediatric infectious diseases

Background:

• No standardized method exists for estimating antimicrobial consumption in neonates, unlike the Defined Daily Doses (DDD) used for adults.
• Current methods in neonatology have limitations, lacking a unified criterion for antimicrobial use assessment.
• This study addresses the need for a validated tool to measure antimicrobial consumption in the neonatal population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate the neonatal Defined Daily Dose (DDD) as a standardized metric for antimicrobial consumption in neonates.
• To establish a reliable indicator for global antimicrobial use estimation in this specific population.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive observational study (Phase II) involving nine Spanish hospitals.
• Collection and analysis of 860 antimicrobial prescriptions from neonatal and intensive care units.
• Validation criteria included statistical significance and agreement in stipulated doses, considering demographic and administration variables.

Main Results:

• Neonatal DDD were successfully defined for 11 antimicrobials, with high potency achieved for 7.
• Intravenous administration was the most common route, with most prescriptions in intensive care units.
• The validated DDDs represent a significant portion of those used in Phase I and II of the research.

Conclusions:

• The validation of neonatal DDD provides a crucial tool for estimating antimicrobial consumption in clinical practice.
• This standardized indicator is applicable globally, enhancing the monitoring of antibiotic use in neonates.
• The study confirms the usefulness and applicability of neonatal DDD for antimicrobial stewardship.