Opportunities for Antibiotic Stewardship Interventions in a Pediatric Hospital

Abstract

Objective This study's objective was to assess an antibiotic stewardship intervention, compare pediatric antibiotic usage in a non-university hospital (Children's Hospital Traunstein [TS]) with a university hospital (Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich [MUC]), and assess adherence to national guidelines. Methods Antibiotic usage pre- and post-antibiotic stewardship (ABS) intervention was compared, and antibiotic prescriptions over 4 months were prospectively recorded. ABS intervention consisted of weekly teaching sessions, antibiotic pocket cards, and rounds with pediatric infectious disease staff. Medical records were reviewed to describe antibiotic consumption, antibiotic dosages and length of use, and adherence to national guidelines. Pediatric antibiotic usage was compared between hospitals and patient groups. Results After the ABS intervention, the use of second-generation cephalosporins decreased, while penicillin with β-lactamase inhibitors (BLI) increased. Survey of antibiotic prescriptions over the 4 months study period in the non-university hospital showed a high administration rate of second-generation cephalosporins and extended-spectrum penicillins in the non-intensive care units (ICU) wards (48.53 and 38.93 days of therapy [DoT]/1,000 patient days [PD], respectively) and a high rate of third-generation cephalosporins in the ICU ward (110.33 DoT/1,000PD). A high prescriptions rate was seen in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) wards (DoT/ length of therapy [LoT] ratio of 2.185). Reserve group antibiotics were only given in the ICU. Adherence to national guidelines was highest in the NICU and pediatric ICU wards. Striking was the relatively high rate of incorrect usage of second-generation cephalosporins. Comparing the pediatric wards of the non-university hospital (TS) and the university hospital (MUC), the prescription ratio was 11.1% (TS) versus 30.6% (MUC), and DoT/1,000PD 198.9 (TS) versus 483.6 (MUC), p = 0.02. ABS intervention changed the choice of described antibiotics, but not the overall frequency. Conclusion Adherence to national guidelines was highest in fields with standardized therapy recommendations, like in the NICU. In MUC, antibiotics, in particular restricted ones, were prescribed more frequently, probably due to higher severity of illness.These data indicate that the usage of antibiotics and adherence to national guidelines show a wide variety, but ABS interventions were effective in changing prescription behavior.