Empiric Vancomycin Reduction in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: At our institution, empirical vancomycin is overused in children with suspected bacterial community-acquired infections (CAIs) admitted to the PICU because of high community rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Our goal was to reduce unnecessary vancomycin use for CAIs in the PICU. METHODS: Empirical PICU vancomycin indications for suspected CAIs were developed by using epidemiological risk factors for MRSA. We aimed to reduce empirical PICU vancomycin use in CAIs by 30%. After retrospectively testing, the indications were implemented and monthly PICU empirical vancomycin use during baseline (May 2017-April 2018) and postintervention (May 2018-July 2019) periods. Education was provided to PICU providers, vancomycin indications were posted, and the antibiotic order set was revised. Statistical process control methods tracked improvement over time. Proven S aureus infections for which vancomycin was not empirically prescribed and linezolid or clindamycin use were balancing measures. RESULTS: We identified 1620 PICU patients with suspected bacterial CAIs. Empirical vancomycin decreased from a baseline of 73% to 45%, a 38% relative reduction. No patient not prescribed empirical vancomycin later required the addition of vancomycin or other MRSA-targeted antibiotics. There was no change in nephrotoxicity or in the balancing measures. CONCLUSIONS: Development of clear and concise recommendations, combined with clinician education and decision support via an order set, was an effective and safe strategy to reduce PICU vancomycin use. Retrospective validation of the recommendations with local data were key to obtaining PICU clinician buy in.

Central catheter-associated bloodstream infection reduction with ethanol lock prophylaxis in pediatric intestinal failure: broadening quality improvement initiatives from hospital to home.

IMPORTANCE: Children with intestinal failure are at high risk for developing central catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CCABSIs) owing to children's chronic dependence on central venous catheters for parenteral nutrition. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the addition of ethanol lock prophylaxis to a best-practice CCABSI prevention bundle on hospital and ambulatory CCABSI rates in children with intestinal failure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Quality improvement and statistical process control analysis that took place at a tertiary care pediatric hospital and patient homes. Participants included children who were 18 years or younger with intestinal failure requiring a central venous catheter. INTERVENTIONS: Central catheter-associated bloodstream infection prevention bundle that included daily ethanol lock prophylaxis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Central catheter-associated bloodstream infection rates and safety outcomes (central catheter insertions, repairs, and hospitalizations) before (January 1, 2011-January 31, 2012) and after (February 1, 2012-December 31, 2013) ethanol lock prophylaxis bundle implementation. RESULTS: Twenty-four children with intestinal failure received the ethanol lock prophylaxis CCABSI prevention bundle for a median of 266 days (range, 12-635 days). Rates of CCABSI decreased from 6.99 CCABSIs per 1000 catheter days at baseline to 0.42 CCABSI per 1000 catheter days after ethanol lock prophylaxis bundle implementation, despite an increase in the total number of catheter days. A subset of 14 children who received prolonged ethanol lock prophylaxis (≥3 months) had fewer median (range) central catheter insertions 0 (0-2) vs 3 (0-6); P = .001. The pre-ELP intervention CCABSI rates in this subset was 7.01 per 1000 catheter days vs 0.64 per 1000 catheter days for post-ELP intervention (P = .004). There were no significant differences in the total number of hospital admissions; however, there were fewer hospitalizations for fever and CCABSI (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A best-practice CCABSI prevention bundle that included ethanol lock prophylaxis in both the hospital and home was successfully implemented, well tolerated, and demonstrated a significant and sustained reduction in preventable harm in the form of CCABSIs in children with intestinal failure.