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Inappropriate vancomycin prescribing based on criteria from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

S V Johnson1, L L Hoey, K Vance-Bryan

  • 1College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA.

Pharmacotherapy
|September 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Concerns about vancomycin resistance highlight the need for prudent antibiotic use. A study found significant inappropriate vancomycin prescribing, indicating a need for physician education on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship

Background:

  • Growing vancomycin resistance poses a threat to treating Gram-positive infections.
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established criteria for judicious vancomycin use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate vancomycin prescribing patterns at an institution based on CDC criteria.
  • To identify the appropriateness of vancomycin use in hospitalized patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 135 hospitalized patients treated with vancomycin.
  • Analysis of prescribing patterns against established CDC guidelines for vancomycin use.

Main Results:

  • 60% of patients received vancomycin inappropriately as empiric therapy.
  • 21% of patients continued to receive vancomycin inappropriately after culture results were available.

Conclusions:

  • Vancomycin prescribing patterns at the institution did not align with CDC guidelines.
  • Substantial educational initiatives are necessary to improve physician adherence to CDC vancomycin recommendations.

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