Evaluation of vancomycin use in a large university-affiliated hospital in eastern France in 1999.
OBJECTIVE
In 1999, we conducted a retrospective drug utilization review to determine the volume and pattern of vancomycin use in a university-affiliated hospital in eastern France.


METHODS
Total vancomycin use was determined and expressed as vancomycin courses per 100 admitted patients and defined daily doses (DDD) of vancomycin per 100 patient-days. The indication for vancomycin use was classified as appropriate or inappropriate according to the guidelines issues by the HICPAC.


RESULTS
A total of 311 vancomycin courses were given, as 2098 DDD, giving crude incidences of 1.17 courses per 100 admitted patients and of 1.19 defined daily doses per 100 patient-days. The frequency of appropriate courses was 66.7%. Of the 63 inappropriate courses of vancomycin, 39.7% and 28.6% were empiric therapy for nosocomial and community-acquired infections, respectively, 20.6% and 6.3% were specific therapy for nosocomial and community-acquired infections, respectively, and 4.7% were prophylactic.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that vancomycin use in our hospital resulted in a lower selection pressure than has been reported for US university-affiliated hospitals and that comprehensive programs to improve use of vancomycin are needed in our institution.
Floret
N
N
Service d'Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Besançon, 25030, France.
Thouverez
M
M
Thalamy
B
B
Estavoyer
J M
JM
Talon
D
D
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017723:Drug Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005602:France; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014640:Vancomycin
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin