Retrospective analysis shows AUC-based dosing reduced nephrotoxicity incidence in patients, indicating potential benefits of antibiotic stewardship.
Background Vancomycin therapeutic monitoring guidelines were published in March 2020 and indicated that for serious infections due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a change from using surrogate troughs of 15 to 20mg/L to calculation of an area under the curve (AUC) over 24 hours to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 400-600 mg*h/L was recommended. Literature regarding the impact of AUC-based dosing within the post-acute setting is lacking. As of 2021, trough-based dosing was the standard of care within a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) system. The system antibiotic stewardship committee implemented AUC-based dosing using a pharmacokinetic calculator as the standard of care. Investigators sought to assess the impact of vancomycin AUC-based dosing. Methods This was a retrospective analysis within 6 LTACHs comparing the incidence of nephrotoxicity before (01/2022-12/2022) and after (01/2024-12/2024) implementation of vancomycin AUC-based dosing and monitoring. Nephrotoxicity was defined as a serum creatinine 1.5 times the patient’s baseline and occurred during or within 3 days after vancomycin discontinuation or patient discharge, whichever came first. Patients receiving vancomycin for greater than equal to 2 days within the study period were included. Those with end-stage renal disease or a baseline serum creatinine of greater than 2 mg/dL were excluded. Patient clinical data, including demographics, comorbidities, concomitant nephrotoxins, medication administration records, and laboratory values were obtained from the medical record. Chi-square was used for nominal data and a 2-sided t-test for continuous data. Results There were 80 patients included in the analysis, 42 in the trough-based pre-group and 38 in the AUC-based post-group. The majority of patients were male (57.5%), and the mean age was 67.9 (SD, 15.2 years). The mean duration of vancomycin was 12.0 (SD, 8.4 days). 58.8% of patients received at least 1 concomitant nephrotoxic medication. The post-implementation group experienced a non-significant reduction in nephrotoxicity incidence (28.9 vs. 50%; p=0.055). Conclusion Implementation of vancomycin AUC-based dosing and monitoring in an LTACH system was associated with a non-significant reduction in nephrotoxicity. Disclosures Katherine M. Shea, PharmD, BCIDP, Cardinal Health: Employee|Cardinal Health: Stocks/Bonds (Public Company) Shelby Hillery, Pharm.D, Cardinal Health: Employee Dylan J. LeBlanc, Pharm.D, BCPS, Cardinal Health: Employee Athena L.V. Hobbs, Pharm.D., BCIDP, FIDSA, Cardinal Health: Employee
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