Necessity of vancomycin trough concentrations to manage uncomplicated acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: a laboratory stewardship analysis

Andrew Merker, Kartik Anne, Justin Rayyan, Milena Murray

Article Type

Original Research

Published

Recent recommendations by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists and Infectious Disease Society of America have provided guidance regarding vancomycin dosing and monitoring in serious infections; however, trough monitoring for uncomplicated acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) were not addressed. Vancomycin use appears to lead to a low incidence of acute kidney injury with short durations and a low trough goal. Nevertheless, clinical studies have found no difference in clinical outcomes for ABSSSI regardless of vancomycin level. Therefore, it can be posed whether trough monitoring is necessary in this patient population. The objective of this study was to determine if vancomycin treatment duration differs for patients with ABSSSI with a sub-therapeutic vancomycin trough (ST; <10 mg/L) compared with therapeutic trough (TT; ≥10 mg/L).

Read more

How to design and implement an outpatient antimicrobial stewardship programme

Emily N Drwiega, Nicole Griffith, Fischer Herald, Melissa E Badowski

Article Type

Review

Published

This manuscript offers detailed guidance on how to design and implement an outpatient antimicrobial stewardship programme and reviews the literature on current strategies. Challenges related to initiating and maintaining outpatient stewardship efforts are also discussed

Read more

Leveraging diagnostic stewardship within antimicrobial stewardship programmes

Kimberly C Claeys, Melissa D Johnson

Article Type

Review

Published

This review will discuss the need for diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship, the interplay of diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship, evidence of benefit to antimicrobial stewardship programmes, and considerations for successfully engaging in diagnostic stewardship interventions.

Read more

Register for alerts

I would like to be contacted by Drugs in Context when new articles are posted.