Providing value to patients and providers via a pediatric statewide antibiogram in South Carolina

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance
• Public Health Microbiology

Background:

• Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) face unique challenges in pediatric populations.
• Limited pediatric-specific antibiogram data can hinder effective antimicrobial prescribing.
• Developing localized antibiograms is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a cumulative statewide antibiogram for neonatal and pediatric populations in South Carolina.
• To augment existing data for antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) serving pediatric patients.
• To address the need for region-specific antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Main Methods:

• The Antimicrobial Stewardship Collaborative of South Carolina (ASC-SC) developed statewide antibiograms.
• Data were collated from four pediatric and three neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) facilities.
• Separate antibiograms were generated for general pediatric and NICU populations.

Main Results:

• Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) was more common than methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
• Specific pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter koserii, and Acinetobacter baumannii were infrequently isolated in NICU settings.
• The study provides a baseline for antimicrobial susceptibility in South Carolina's pediatric and neonatal populations.

Conclusions:

• Statewide pediatric antibiograms can enhance empiric prescribing in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
• This initiative provides valuable data for areas lacking specific pediatric antibiogram information.
• While antibiograms are vital, they are one component of comprehensive pediatric antimicrobial stewardship.