Objectives: Heparin is the universal anticoagulant for patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. However, heparin has many disadvantages, especially in young children, who develop heparin resistance. Recently our center has used bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor, for systemic anticoagulation in pediatric extracorporeal life support. Bivalirudin binds directly to thrombin with no need for antithrombin III and it inhibits both circulating and clot-bound thrombin. In this study, we sought to evaluate our experience with bivalirudin in pediatric extracorporeal life support. Design: Retrospective chart review study of patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support between October 2014 and May 2018. Setting: Tertiary, academic PICU. Patients: Sixteen patients receiving heparin and 16 patients receiving bivalirudin on extracorporeal life support were included in the study. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Patients in the bivalirudin group had a median age of 31 months versus 59 months in the heparin group (p = 0.41). Recovery and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation decannulation were similar in both groups (56% in the heparin group and 62% in the bivalirudin group; p = 0.62). Time to reach goal therapeutic anticoagulation level was shorter in the bivalirudin group (11 vs 29 hr; p = 0.01). Bleeding events were fewer in the bivalirudin group, and there was no difference in the rate of thrombotic events between the two groups. Comprehensive cost analysis that includes anticoagulant, laboratories, and antithrombin III cost, showed that heparin anticoagulation therapy total cost was significantly higher than bivalirudin (1,184 dollars per day in heparin group vs 494 dollars per day in bivalirudin group; p = 0.03). Bivalirudin dose required to maintain target anticoagulation will increase over time, and this is associated with an increase in creatinine clearance and an increase in fibrinogen serum levels. Conclusions: This study showed that the use of bivalirudin in pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support is feasible, safe, reliable, and cost-effective in comparison to heparin. Further prospective randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm our observations.

and the Bright STAR Authorship Group IMPORTANCE Blood culture overuse in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) can lead to unnecessary antibiotic use and contribute to antibiotic resistance. Optimizing blood culture practices through diagnostic stewardship may reduce unnecessary blood cultures and antibiotics.OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association of a 14-site multidisciplinary PICU blood culture collaborative with culture rates, antibiotic use, and patient outcomes. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective quality improvement (QI) collaborative involved 14 PICUs across the United States from 2017 to 2020 for the Bright STAR (Testing Stewardship for Antibiotic Reduction) collaborative. Data were collected from each participating PICU and from the Children's Hospital Association Pediatric Health Information System for prespecified primary and secondary outcomes. EXPOSURES A local QI program focusing on blood culture practices in the PICU (facilitated by a larger QI collaborative). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcome was blood culture rates (per 1000 patient-days/mo). Secondary outcomes included broad-spectrum antibiotic use (total days of therapy and new initiations of broad-spectrum antibiotics Ն3 days after PICU admission) and PICU rates of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), Clostridioides difficile infection, mortality, readmission, length of stay, sepsis, and severe sepsis/septic shock.RESULTS Across the 14 PICUs, the blood culture rate was 149.4 per 1000 patient-days/mo preimplementation and 100.5 per 1000 patient-days/mo postimplementation, for a 33% relative reduction (95% CI, 26%-39%). Comparing the periods before and after implementation, the rate of broad-spectrum antibiotic use decreased from 506 days to 440 days per 1000 patient-days/mo, respectively, a 13% relative reduction (95% CI, 7%-19%). The broad-spectrum antibiotic initiation rate decreased from 58.1 to 53.6 initiations/1000 patient-days/mo, an 8% relative reduction (95% CI, 4%-11%). Rates of CLABSI decreased from 1.8 to 1.1 per 1000 central venous line days/mo, a 36% relative reduction (95% CI, 20%-49%). Mortality, length of stay, readmission, sepsis, and severe sepsis/septic shock were similar before and after implementation. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Multidisciplinary diagnostic stewardship interventions canreduce blood culture and antibiotic use in the PICU. Future work will determine optimal strategies for wider-scale dissemination of diagnostic stewardship in this setting while monitoring patient safety and balancing measures.

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Heparin has been used for decades as an anticoagulant in patients on mechanical circulatory support, which includes extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist devices. Bivalirudin is a direct thrombin inhibitor that can be used as an alternative anticoagulant in neonates and infants demonstrating inaccurate heparin monitoring. We report a case of a 2-month-old male child who was placed on ECMO for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. His ECMO course was complicated by severe hemolysis and hyperbilirubinemia, which precluded accurate monitoring of heparin activity. Bivalirudin was successfully used for anticoagulation in this patient.

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