Glycopeptide prescribing in a tertiary referral paediatric hospital and applicability of Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) guidelines to children

This study was undertaken to investigate the frequency of, indications for and appropriateness of glycopeptide prescription in a paediatric tertiary referral hospital and to assess the usefulness of the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) guidelines. A prospective audit of all systemic glycopeptide prescriptions over a 2-month period was undertaken. Clinical and microbiological data were recorded. Of 2810 hospital admissions, systemic IV glycopeptides were prescribed on 57 occasions to 50 patients, 30 (52.6%) for vancomycin and 27 (47.4%) for teicoplanin. Prescriptions were for 34 males and 23 females aged from 2 weeks to 11 years (mean 15 months; median 9 months). Median hospital stay was 50 days. Glycopeptides were given to the following patient groups: cardiology 7 (12%), prophylaxis for cardiac surgery 11 (19%), post-cardiac surgery 1 (1.8%), oncology 14 (24.6%), post-gastrointestinal tract surgical 8 (14%), general surgical 9 (15.8%) and medical 7 (12.3%). Twenty three children (41.8%) had central lines in situ. Reason for use of glycopeptide was therapeutic in 7 (12.3%), empiric in 38 (66.7%), and as prophylaxis in 12 (21.1%). Eight (14%) prescriptions met strict HICPAC criteria, but a further 22 (39%) prescriptions were considered appropriate in this high-risk population. Glycopeptides were chosen appropriately for cardiac surgery prophylaxis in a further 10 (18%) but timing and duration of use in this group was inappropriate. Of all prescriptions, use was empiric in 38 (76%) and appropriate cultures were obtained at the time of commencement in only 13 (34%) of these. Glycopeptides were not used for routine surgical prophylaxis or for first-line empiric treatment of febrile neutropenia. Conclusions The strict implementation of HICPAC guidelines may not always be appropriate for children at risk of beta-lactam resistant gram-positive infections. Hospital guidelines need to be tailored to the patient population and microbial susceptibility patterns of each institution. Appropriate cultures should be obtained at the time glycopeptide treatment is begun so that duration of exposure can be limited.