Pharmacokinetics-Based Pediatric Dose Evaluation and Optimization Using Saliva - A Case Study.

Understanding pharmacokinetics (PK) in children is a prerequisite to determine optimal pediatric dosing. As plasma sampling in children is challenging, alternative PK sampling strategies are needed. In this case study we evaluated the suitability of saliva as alternative PK matrix to simplify studies in infants, investigating metamizole, an analgesic used off-label in infants. Six plasma and 6 saliva PK sample collections were scheduled after a single intravenous dose of 10 mg/kg metamizole. Plasma/saliva pharmacometric (PMX) modeling of the active metabolites 4-methylaminoantipyrine (4-MAA) and 4-aminoantipyrine (4-AA) was performed. Various reduced plasma sampling scenarios were evaluated by PMX simulations. Saliva and plasma samples from 25 children were included (age range, 5-70 months; weight range, 8.7-24.8 kg). Distribution of metamizole metabolites between plasma and saliva was without delay. Estimated mean (individual range) saliva/plasma fractions of 4-MAA and 4-AA were 0.32 (0.05-0.57) and 0.57 (0.25-0.70), respectively. Residual variability of 4-MAA (4-AA) in saliva was 47% (28%) versus 17% (11%) in plasma. A simplified sampling scenario with up to 6 saliva samples combined with 1 plasma sample was associated with similar PK parameter estimates as the full plasma sampling scenario. This case study with metamizole shows increased PK variability in saliva compared to plasma, compromising its suitability as single matrix for PK studies in infants. Nonetheless, rich saliva sampling can reduce the number of plasma samples required for PK characterization, thereby facilitating the conduct of PK studies to optimize dosing in pediatric patients.

Model-driven survival prediction after congenital heart surgery.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to improve postoperative risk assessment in congenital heart surgery by developing a machine-learning model based on readily available peri- and postoperative parameters. METHODS: Our bicentric retrospective data analysis from January 2014 to December 2019 of established risk parameters for dismal outcome was used to train and test a model to predict postoperative survival within the first 30 days. The Freiburg training data consisted of 780 procedures; the Heidelberg test data comprised 985 procedures. STAT mortality score, age, aortic cross-clamp time and postoperative lactate values over 24 h were considered. RESULTS: Our model showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 94.86%, specificity of 89.48% and sensitivity of 85.00%, resulting in 3 false negatives and 99 false positives.The STAT mortality score and the aortic cross-clamp time each showed a statistically highly significant impact on postoperative mortality. Interestingly, a child's age was barely statistically significant. Postoperative lactate values indicated an increased mortality risk if they were either constantly at a high level or low during the first 8 h postoperatively with an increase afterwards.When considering parameters available before, at the end of and 24 h after surgery, the predictive power of the complete model achieved the highest AUC. This, compared to the already high predictive power alone (AUC 88.9%) of the STAT mortality score, translates to an error reduction of 53.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Our model predicts postoperative survival after congenital heart surgery with great accuracy. Compared with preoperative risk assessments, our postoperative risk assessment reduces prediction error by half. Heightened awareness of high-risk patients should improve preventive measures and thus patient safety.

Pharmacokinetics of a microdosed cocktail of three direct oral anticoagulants in children with congenital heart defects: study protocol for a single-centre clinical trial (DOAC-Child).

INTRODUCTION: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are direct inhibitors of coagulation factor Xa and are frequently used in adults for different indications such as deep vein thrombosis or non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Paediatric patients might benefit as well from DOACs because the simplicity and convenience of their use is likely to decrease physical and psychological stress related to invasive procedures associated with phenprocoumon and heparin therapy. Thus, it is expected that the future use of DOACs will ultimately improve compliance and overall safety of anticoagulant therapies in paediatric populations. To assure safe and effective use the clinical pharmacology and pharmacokinetics (PK) of these drugs need to be evaluated in children. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This study is a single-centre, open-label, clinical trial in a paediatric population with non-cyanotic congenital heart defects. After having obtained informed consent from the parents, each participant will receive a single oral administration of a drinkable solution of a microdose cocktail of three FXa inhibitors consisting of apixaban (12.5 µg), rivaroxaban (12.5 µg), edoxaban (50 µg), plus a microdose of the two probe drugs midazolam (10 µg) and yohimbine (25 µg). Serial blood samples (n=up to 20) will be collected at specified time points before and up to 25 hours after cocktail administration. The primary PK endpoint will be the area under the plasma concentration time curve of apixaban, rivaroxaban and edoxaban. Secondary PK outcomes will be Cmax, tmax, t1/2, Cl/F and Vss/F. Safety and tolerability of the microdose cocktail will be evaluated as well by a collection of adverse events. ETHICS: This study has been approved by the responsible Ethics Committee of the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University. DISSEMINATION: Study results will be presented at international scientific meetings and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: EudraCT 2019-001759-38 16, DRKS00021455.

Efficacy and Safety of NSAIDs in Infants: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature of the Past 20 Years.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are commonly used in infants, children, and adolescents worldwide; however, despite sufficient evidence of the beneficial effects of NSAIDs in children and adolescents, there is a lack of comprehensive data in infants. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on the safety and efficacy of various NSAIDs used in infants for which data are available, and includes ibuprofen, dexibuprofen, ketoprofen, flurbiprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, ketorolac, indomethacin, niflumic acid, meloxicam, celecoxib, parecoxib, rofecoxib, acetylsalicylic acid, and nimesulide. The efficacy of NSAIDs has been documented for a variety of conditions, such as fever and pain. NSAIDs are also the main pillars of anti-inflammatory treatment, such as in pediatric inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Limited data are available on the safety of most NSAIDs in infants. Adverse drug reactions may be renal, gastrointestinal, hematological, or immunologic. Since NSAIDs are among the most frequently used drugs in the pediatric population, safety and efficacy studies can be performed as part of normal clinical routine, even in young infants. Available data sources, such as (electronic) medical records, should be used for safety and efficacy analyses. On a larger scale, existing data sources, e.g. adverse drug reaction programs/networks, spontaneous national reporting systems, and electronic medical records should be assessed with child-specific methods in order to detect safety signals pertinent to certain pediatric age groups or disease entities. To improve the safety of NSAIDs in infants, treatment needs to be initiated with the lowest age-appropriate or weight-based dose. Duration of treatment and amount of drug used should be regularly evaluated and maximum dose limits and other recommendations by the manufacturer or expert committees should be followed. Treatment for non-chronic conditions such as fever and acute (postoperative) pain should be kept as short as possible. Patients with chronic conditions should be regularly monitored for possible adverse effects of NSAIDs.

US drug shortages compared to the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines for Children: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To describe US drug shortages affecting medications on the 2019 World Health Organization (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc). METHODS: Drug shortage data from January 2014 to December 2019 were obtained from the University of Utah Drug Information Service. Shortage data for drugs on the EMLc were analyzed for the type of drug, American Hospital Formulary Service category, reason for the shortage, duration of the shortage, marketing status (generic vs brand name), and whether the agent was a single- or multisource drug. RESULTS: From 2014 to 2019, a total of 209 drug shortages impacted medications on the EMLc, of which 77 (36.8%) remained unresolved by 2019. Of all active shortages, 13 (6.2%) began before 2014. Resolved shortages had a median duration of 5.9 months (interquartile range [IQR], 3.6-13.2 months) while active shortages had a median duration of 18.3 months (IQR, 10.9-33.5 months; P ≤ 0.0001). The therapeutic categories most impacted by drug shortages were anti-infective agents (27.3%), central nervous system agents (12.9%), and antineoplastic agents (11.0%). The reason for the shortage was not reported in 46.4% of cases. When a reason was provided, the most common reason was manufacturing problems (29.2%) followed by supply/demand mismatch (15.8%). CONCLUSION: US drug shortages affected many medications on the WHO EMLc. Future studies should examine the global shortage climate and implications for patient care.

Plasma concentration guided dosing of drugs used for the treatment of childhood leukaemias: protocol for a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood leukaemia is the most common type of cancer in children and represents among 25% of the diagnoses in children <15 years old. Childhood survival rates have significantly improved within the last 40 years due to a rapid advancement in therapeutic interventions. However, in high-risk groups, survival rates remain poor. Pharmacokinetic (PK) data of cancer medications in children are limited and thus current dosing regimens are based on studies with small sample sizes. In adults, large variability in PK is observed and dose individualisation (plasma concentration guided dosing) has been associated with improved clinical outcomes; whether this is true for children is still unknown. This provides an opportunity to explore this strategy in children to potentially reduce toxicities and ensure optimal dosing. This paper will provide a protocol to systematically review studies that have used dose individualisation of drugs used in the treatment of childhood leukaemias. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Systematic review methodology will be applied to identify, select and extract data from published plasma guided dosing studies conducted in a paediatric leukaemia cohort. Databases (eg, Ovid Embase, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Cochrane) and clinical trial registries (CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov and ISRCTN) will be used to perform the systematic literature search (up until February 2021). Only full empirical studies will be included, with primary clinical outcomes (progression-free survival, toxicities, minimal residual disease status, complete cytogenetic response, partial cytogenetic response and major molecular response) being used to decide whether the study will be included. The quality of included studies will be undertaken, with a subgroup analysis where appropriate. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review will not require ethics approval as there will not be collection of primary data. Findings of this review will be made available through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. Gaps will be identified in current literature to inform future-related research. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42021225045.

Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating illness causing already significant morbidity in childhood. Currently approved treatment options for children comprise the endothelin receptor antagonist bosentan, as well as the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil. But PAH treatment has advanced significantly over the past decade, and new classes of targeted drug therapies, such as stimulators of the soluble guanylate cyclase (riociguat) or prostacyclin receptor agonists (selexipag), are currently evaluated regarding their efficacy and safety in children, in order to limit off-label use. Due to the different etiologies in children, such as PAH-CHD, there is no evidence that initial combination therapy in children is superior to a mono-therapy with respect to survival. Special attention should also be paid to the pharmacology of PAH drugs in children, which might be impacted by ontogeny or drug-drug-interactions. Therapeutic drug monitoring may be useful in pediatric patients. There is a clear need for more controlled studies of PAH medications, alone or in combination therapy in the pediatric age group. Data from clinical trials as well as from patient registries should be pooled to optimize drug development and evaluation, trial design, and evidence-based pharmacotherapy in pediatric patients with PAH. In this review, the current treatment options of pediatric PAH are summarized, and an overview of new treatment concepts, which are already evaluated in adults, is presented.

Monitoring the recovery time of children after tonsillectomy using commercial activity trackers.

An observational prospective feasibility study in which children received a tracker 2 weeks before a tonsillectomy and were required to wear it until four weeks postoperatively. The parents used a diary to log the estimated steps of their child. As primary endpoint, the compliance of complete datasets was compared between the tracker and the diary. As secondary endpoints, the agreement of steps between tracker and diary, and the recovery time after tonsillectomy were analyzed.Twenty-four patients (50% male) with a median age of 6 years were recruited. The tracker had a complete dataset compliance of 91.7% in the pre-operative and 58.3% in postoperative period, whereas the diary's compliance was 62.5% in the pre-operative and 12.5% in the postoperative period. The difference of 29.2% and 45.8% in the pre-operative and postoperative periods between the tracker and the diary was significant (p < 0.005). The tracker and diary had a mean agreement difference of 1063 steps per day. Mean recovery time was 21 days after tonsillectomy.Conclusion: The results of this pilot study support the use of a tracker in terms of compliance and practicability. Consumer-level activity trackers are a viable alternative to conventional manual logging for clinical use in pediatric research.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03174496 What is known: • Consumer-level activity trackers are already used in clinical research to monitor steps and physical activity. • The use of consumer-level activity trackers in clinical studies has mostly been validated in the adult population. What is new: • This study proves the feasibility of using physical activity trackers in a pediatric population before and after a surgical intervention. • Recovery of a patient could be assessed with an activity tracker.

Personalised therapeutic management of epileptic patients guided by pathway-driven breath metabolomics.

Background: Therapeutic management of epilepsy remains a challenge, since optimal systemic antiseizure medication (ASM) concentrations do not always correlate with improved clinical outcome and minimal side effects. We tested the feasibility of noninvasive real-time breath metabolomics as an extension of traditional therapeutic drug monitoring for patient stratification by simultaneously monitoring drug-related and drug-modulated metabolites. Methods: This proof-of-principle observational study involved 93 breath measurements of 54 paediatric patients monitored over a period of 2.5 years, along with an adult's cohort of 37 patients measured in two different hospitals. Exhaled breath metabolome of epileptic patients was measured in real time using secondary electrospray ionisation-high-resolution mass spectrometry (SESI-HRMS). Results: We show that systemic ASM concentrations could be predicted by the breath test. Total and free valproic acid (VPA, an ASM) is predicted with concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) of 0.63 and 0.66, respectively. We also find (i) high between- and within-subject heterogeneity in VPA metabolism; (ii) several amino acid metabolic pathways are significantly enriched (p < 0.01) in patients suffering from side effects; (iii) tyrosine metabolism is significantly enriched (p < 0.001), with downregulated pathway compounds in non-responders. Conclusions: These results show that real-time breath analysis of epileptic patients provides reliable estimations of systemic drug concentrations along with risk estimates for drug response and side effects.

Drug-drug and drug-food interactions in an infant with early-onset SCN2A epilepsy treated with carbamazepine, phenytoin and a ketogenic diet.

Sodium channel 2 subunit α (SCN2A) mutations cause difficult-to-treat early-onset epilepsy. Effective treatment includes high-dose phenytoin or carbamazepine ± ketogenic diet (KD). We describe an infant with early-onset SCN2A-epilepsy with subtherapeutic carbamazepine concentration during transition from phenytoin treatment to avoid long-term neurotoxicity. The transition from high-dose phenytoin (20 mg kg-1 d-1 , concentration: ≥20 mg/L) with KD, to carbamazepine (50-75 mg kg-1 d-1 , concentration: 9-12 mg/L) lasted 85 days, which we suspected was due to significant drug-drug and/or drug-food interactions. Model-based analysis of carbamazepine pharmacokinetics quantified significant time- and dose-dependent phenytoin-mediated CYP3A4 induction and carbamazepine concentration-dependent auto-induction (apparent clearance increased up to 2.5/3-fold). Lower carbamazepine concentrations under KD were modelled as decreased relative bioavailability (44%), potentially related to decreased fraction absorbed (unexpected for this lipophilic drug), increased intestinal/hepatic metabolism and/or decreased protein-binding with KD. This suggests importance of carbamazepine-concentration monitoring during KD-introduction/removal and necessity of high carbamazepine doses to achieve therapeutic concentrations, especially in infants treated with high-dose phenytoin.

Intermediate monocytes exhibit higher levels of TLR2, TLR4 and CD64 early after congenital heart surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) initiates an immune response which frequently leads to organ dysfunction and a systemic inflammatory response. Complications associated with exacerbated immune responses may severely impact the postoperative recovery. The objective was to describe the characteristics of monocyte subpopulations and neutrophils at the level of pattern recognition receptors (PRR) and the cytokine response after CPB in infants. METHODS: An observational cohort study was conducted between June 2016 and June 2017 of infants < 2 years of age, electively admitted for surgical correction of acyanotic congenital heart defects using CPB. Fourteen blood samples were collected sequentially and processed immediately during and up to 48 h following cardiac surgery for each patient. Flow cytometry analysis comprised monocytic and granulocytic surface expression of CD14, CD16, CD64, TLR2, TLR4 and Dectin-1 (CLEC7A). Monocyte subpopulations were further defined as classical (CD14++/CD16-), intermediate (CD14++/CD16+) and nonclassical (CD14+/CD16++) monocytes. Plasma concentrations of 14 cytokines, including G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-1ß, IL-1RA, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, TNF-α, IFN-γ, MIP-1ß (CCL4) and TGF-ß1, were measured using multiplex immunoassay for seven points in time. RESULTS: Samples from 21 infants (median age 7.4 months) were analyzed by flow cytometry and from 11 infants, cytokine concentrations were measured. Classical and intermediate monocytes showed first receptor upregulation with an increase in CD64 expression four hours post CPB. CD64-expression on intermediate monocytes almost tripled 48 h post CPB (p < 0.0001). TLR4 was only increased on intermediate monocytes, occurring 12 h post CPB (p = 0.0406) along with elevated TLR2 levels (p = 0.0002). TLR4 expression on intermediate monocytes correlated with vasoactive-inotropic score (rs = 0.642, p = 0.0017), duration of ventilation (rs = 0.485, p = 0.0259), highest serum creatinine (rs = 0.547, p = 0.0102), postsurgical transfusion (total volume per kg bodyweight) (rs = 0.469, p = 0.0321) and lowest mean arterial pressure (rs = -0.530, p = 0.0135). Concentrations of IL-10, MIP-1ß, IL-8, G-CSF and IL-6 increased one hour post CPB. Methylprednisolone administration in six patients had no significant influence on the studied surface receptors but led to lower IL-8 and higher IL-10 plasma concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital heart surgery with CPB induces a systemic inflammatory process including cytokine response and changes in PRR expression. Intermediate monocytes feature specific inflammatory characteristics in the 48 h after pediatric CPB and TLR4 correlates with poorer clinical course, which might provide a potential diagnostic or even therapeutic target.

Prophylactic Use of Enoxaparin in Adolescents During Bariatric Surgery-a Prospective Clinical Study.

INTRODUCTION: Severe obesity predisposes youth to a higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study evaluates a BMI-stratified prophylactic dosing regimen of enoxaparin in adolescents with severe obesity undergoing surgery. METHODS: Adolescents aged 12-20 years received prophylactic enoxaparin at 40 mg SC (for a BMI < 50 kg/m2) and 60 mg SC (for a BMI ≥ 50 kg/m2) every 12 h until discharge. Blood samples were drawn at pre-dose, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 12 h. Plasma Anti-Factor Xa (Anti-FXa) activity was used as a surrogate marker for enoxaparin pharmacokinetics. RESULTS: Ten female and two male obese adolescents (age range 14-19 years) had a mean BMI of 49.9 kg/m2 (38.4-58 kg/m2). Four patients had a BMI of less than 50 kg/m2 and received 40 mg enoxaparin, resulting in a mean dosage of 0.352 ± 0.070 mg/kg body weight. Eight patients were dosed with 60 mg enoxaparin every 12 h, resulting in a mean dosage of 0.395 ± 0.028 mg/kg. Peak plasma anti-FXa activity (Cmax) ranged from 0.14 to 0.30 IU/mL, median Cmax was 0.205 IU/mL. Median Tmax was 5.67 h (range 3.78-7.52 h). Median AUCi was 1.00 h IU/mL (range 0.42-1.67 h IU/mL). Ten out of 12 patients (83%) reached the primary endpoint with anti-FXa activity in the range for VTE prevention (0.1-0.3 IU/mL). CONCLUSIONS: Our dosing scheme of 40 mg vs. 60 mg enoxaparin stratified according to BMI proved to be effective in reaching prophylactic anti-FXa activity in 83% of adolescent patients.

#Science: The Potential and the Challenges of Utilizing Social Media and Other Electronic Communication Platforms in Health Care.

Electronic communication is becoming increasingly popular worldwide, as evidenced by its widespread and rapidly growing use. In medicine, however, it remains a novel approach to reach out to patients. Yet, they have the potential for further improving current health care. Electronic platforms could support therapy adherence and communication between physicians and patients. The power of social media as well as other electronic devices can improve adherence as evidenced by the development of the app bant. Additionally, systemic analysis of social media content by Screenome can identify health events not always captured by regular health care. By better identifying these healthcare events we can improve our current healthcare system as we will be able to better tailor to the patients' needs. All these techniques are a valuable component of modern health care and will help us into the future of increasingly digital health care.

Minor contribution of cytochrome P450 3A activity on fentanyl exposure in palliative care cancer patients.

Transdermal fentanyl is widely used to control pain in cancer patients. The high pharmacokinetic variability of fentanyl is assumed to be due to cytochrome P450 3A-mediated (CYP3A) N-dealkylation to norfentanyl in humans. However, recently published clinical studies question the importance of the described metabolic pathway. In this small study in palliative cancer patients under real-life clinical conditions, the influence of CYP3A on fentanyl variability was investigated. In addition to the determination of midazolam plasma concentration to reveal CYP3A activity, plasma concentrations of fentanyl and its metabolite, norfentanyl, were measured in identical blood samples of 20 patients who participated in an ongoing trial and had been on transdermal fentanyl. Fentanyl, norfentanyl, midazolam, and 1'-OH-midazolam were quantified by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Plasma concentrations of fentanyl and norfentanyl exhibited a large variability. Mean estimated total clearance of fentanyl and mean metabolic clearance of midazolam (as a marker of CYP3A activity) were 75.5 and 36.3 L/h. Both clearances showed a weak correlation and hence a minimal influence of CYP3A on fentanyl elimination.

Dose evaluation of intravenous metamizole (dipyrone) in infants and children: a prospective population pharmacokinetic study.

PURPOSE: The prodrug metamizole is prescribed intravenously for postoperative pain in children, including off-label use in infants < 1 year. We aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics of the main metabolites of metamizole in children aged 3-72 months. METHODS: A single dose of 10 mg/kg metamizole was administered intravenously for postoperative analgesia. Pharmacokinetic samples were drawn at predefined time points. Pharmacokinetics of the main active metabolite 4-methylaminoantipyrine and three other metabolites was characterized by both non-compartmental and population pharmacokinetic analysis. AUC0-inf of 4-methylaminoantipyrine was calculated by non-compartmental analysis for two age cohorts (3-23 months, 2-6 years) and compared with the 80-125% range of adult dose-adjusted reference exposure (AUCref). Population pharmacokinetic analysis investigated age and weight dependency of the pharmacokinetics and optimal dosing strategies to achieve equivalent adult exposure. RESULTS: A total of 25 children aged 5 months-5.8 years (7.8-24.8 kg) with at least one concentration sample were included; 19 children had ≥ 5 predefined samples up to 10 h after metamizole dose administration. AUC0-inf of 4-methylaminoantipyrine in children 2-6 years was 29.9 mg/L/h (95% CI 23.4-38.2), significantly lower than AUCref (80-125% range 39.2-61.2 mg/L/h). AUC0-inf of 4-methylaminoantipyrine in infants < 2 years was 43.6 mg/L/h (95% CI 15.8-119.0), comparable with AUCref, while infants < 12 months showed increased exposure. Observed variability could be partially explained by covariates weight and age. CONCLUSIONS: Age-related changes in pharmacokinetics of 4-methylaminoantipyrine requires reduced weight-based IV dosing in infants < 1 year compared with infants and children up to 6 years (5 versus 10-20 mg/kg) to achieve equivalent adult exposure. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02660177 .

Prescription Drug Shortages: Impact on Neonatal Intensive Care.

BACKGROUND: Prescription drug shortages have increased significantly during the past two decades and also impact drugs used in critical care and pediatrics. OBJECTIVES: To analyze drug shortages affecting medications used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). METHODS: Drug shortage data for the top 100 NICU drugs were retrieved from the University of Utah Drug Information Service from 2001 to 2016. Data were analyzed focusing on drug class, formulation, reason for shortage, and shortage duration. RESULTS: Seventy-four of the top 100 NICU drugs were impacted by 227 shortages (10.3% of total shortages). Twenty-eight (12.3%) shortages were unresolved as of December 2016. Resolved shortages had a median duration of 8.8 months (interquartile range 3.6-21.3), and generic drugs were involved in 175 (87.9%). An alternative agent was available for 171 (85.8%) drugs but 120 (70.2%) of alternatives were also affected by shortages. Parenteral drugs were involved in 172 (86.4%) shortages, with longer durations than nonparenteral drugs (9.9 vs. 6.4 months, p = 0.022). The most common shortage reason was manufacturing problems (32.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Drug shortages affected many agents used in NICUs, which can have quality and safety implications for patient care, especially in extremely low birth weight infants. Neonatologists must be aware of current shortages and implement mitigation strategies to optimize patient care.