Decreasing Vancomycin Utilization in the NICU by Optimizing Treatment Decisions in Suspected Late Onset Sepsis

摘要

BackgroundLate Onset Sepsis (LOS) is frequently suspected in NICU patients in the setting of nonspecific clinical symptoms. Based on institutional antibiogram data, empiric treatment of LOS in our NICU is vancomycin and amikacin with a plan to deescalate or discontinue based on culture results and symptomatology. Baseline data in our NICU revealed vancomycin overuse where vancomycin was continued past 48 hours of culture negativity, after Gram-negative urinary tract infection (UTI) was diagnosed, or for urine cultures reported with multiple organisms or < 10,000 CFU/mL. Our objective was to eliminate inappropriately prolonged empiric use of vancomycin for suspected LOS or UTI.