title: Evaluation of vancomycin use in a large university-affiliated hospital in eastern France in 1999.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Besançon, 25030, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Floret
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thouverez
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thalamy
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Estavoyer
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talon
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin