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Enhancing the Appropriate Use of Vancomycin in Pediatric Patients: The Impact of Drug Utilization Evaluation and

Chanya Pongpatipat1, Sophida Boonsathorn1, Sujittra Chaisavaneeyakorn1

  • 1Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Sage Open Pediatrics
|March 12, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A drug utilization evaluation (DUE) program significantly improved vancomycin prescribing appropriateness in children. Infectious disease (ID) consultation also independently contributed to appropriate vancomycin use in this pediatric study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Vancomycin is a critical antibiotic for treating serious pediatric infections.
  • Appropriate vancomycin prescribing is essential to optimize patient outcomes and minimize resistance.
  • Drug utilization evaluation (DUE) programs are interventions to improve medication prescribing patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of a voluntary drug utilization evaluation (DUE) program on the appropriateness of vancomycin prescribing in hospitalized children.
  • To identify clinical factors, including infectious disease (ID) consultation, associated with appropriate vancomycin use.

Main Methods:

  • A historical-control study design was employed, comparing vancomycin prescriptions before and after DUE program implementation (January 2020-January 2022).
  • Data from 423 pediatric patients receiving intravenous vancomycin were retrospectively reviewed.
  • Appropriateness of vancomycin prescribing was evaluated, and factors associated with appropriate use were analyzed using logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • Vancomycin prescribing appropriateness was significantly higher in the DUE group (87.9%) compared to the non-DUE group (72.0%; P < .001).
  • Implementation of the DUE program (adjusted OR 2.96) and infectious disease consultation (adjusted OR 3.87) were independently associated with appropriate vancomycin prescribing.
  • These findings highlight the effectiveness of DUE programs and ID collaboration in optimizing antibiotic use.

Conclusions:

  • The implementation of a drug utilization evaluation program demonstrably improved the appropriateness of vancomycin prescribing in a pediatric population.
  • Infectious disease consultation emerged as a significant independent predictor of appropriate vancomycin use, underscoring its value in antimicrobial stewardship.
  • These results support the integration of DUE programs and ID expertise to enhance antibiotic stewardship efforts in pediatric care settings.
Abstract

Keywords:
antibiotic appropriatenessantibiotic stewardshipdrug utilization evaluation, vancomycin stewardshipinfectious disease consultation

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