Affiliations: Akron Children's Hospital, Northeast Ohio Universities
College of Medicine, Akron, OH, USA | Inhibitex, Inc., Alpharetta, GA, USA | Rho, Inc., Chapel Hill, NC, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Firas A. Saker, MD, Director of Neonatal
Care Unit, Akron Children's Hospital at St. Elizabeth Health Center, 1044
Belmont Ave, Youngstown, OH 44501, USA. Tel.: +1 330 480 2363; Fax: +1 330 480
6359; E-mail: Firas_Saker@hmis.org
Abstract: Objective: To evaluate vancomycin use during late-onset sepsis
evaluation in very low birth weight infants (VLBW). Study design: Data on late-onset sepsis and antibiotic use,
including vancomycin containing regimens, were analyzed and reported from 53
neonatal intensive care units participating in a randomized placebo-controlled
trial of Veronate® for VLBW infants. Results: Of 505 infants enrolled in the study, 387 (77%)
had at least one evaluation for late-onset sepsis. Of these infants, 108
(28%) had one or more positive blood cultures. Two hundred thirty-three
(60%) infants evaluated for late-onset sepsis received empiric vancomycin.
Twenty-one of 33 neonatal intensive care units included vancomycin as empiric
therapy more than 50% of the time. Conclusions: Vancomycin exposure rates for first evaluations
of late-onset sepsis are high. Strategies to optimize antibiotic use should
minimize consequences of late-onset sepsis while limiting antibiotic pressure
for development of resistance.
