Author/Authors :
Askarian, M. shiraz university of medical sciences - Department of Community Medicine, ايران , Assadian, O. Medical University of Vienna - University Hospital Vienna, Clinical Institute for Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Austria , Safaee, GhR. jahrom university of medical sciences, ايران , Golkar, A. jahrom university of medical sciences, ايران , Namazi, S. shiraz university of medical sciences - Department of Pharmacy, ايران , Movahed, M.R. University of California - Irvine Medical Center - Department of Medicine, USA
Abstract :
We investigated adherence to the Hospital Infection Control Practice Advisory Committee (HICPAC) guidelines on vancomycin prescription in a large university-affiliated hospital in Shiraz. From August to December 2003, 200 hospitalized patients received vancomycin. For only 12 (6%) of these patients was vancomycin prescribed appropriately according to HICPAC guidelines. The main reasons why vancomycin use did not comply with HICPAC recommendations were: surgical prophylaxis in patients with negative cultures for resistant Gram-positive organisms, no investigation of vancomycin serum levels in patients receiving 48 hours of vancomycin, vancomycin serum levels not repeated in patients receiving 1 week of vancomycin, no appropriate adjustment of dosage with respect to serum levels in patients receiving vancomycin.
