TY - JOUR
T1 - Empiric Antibiotics for Serious Bacterial Infection in Young Infants
T2 - Opportunities for Stewardship
AU - Cantey, Joseph B.
AU - Lopez-Medina, Eduardo
AU - Nguyen, Sean
AU - Doern, Christopher
AU - Garcia, Carla
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/8/18
Y1 - 2015/8/18
N2 - Objectives To evaluate the causative agents of serious bacterial infection (SBI) in young infants and the optimal approach to empiric antibiotic therapy for infants with SBI. Methods From May 1, 2011, to December 1, 2013, pertinent clinical data were collected on previously well infants 60 days or younger with SBI as defined by a positive bacterial culture from a sterile site. Infants were identified by prospective surveillance of admissions and daily review of microbiology records. Results Two hundred sixty-five infants with SBI were identified. Mean age was 32 days (SD ±16.6 days). Twenty-nine infants had meningitis, 66 had bacteremia (37 with concomitant urinary tract infection), and 170 had urinary tract infection alone. No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus sp., or penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified. Four extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing gram-negative bacilli were seen. Empiric therapy was ampicillin and gentamicin (n = 116, 44%) or third-generation cephalosporin based (n = 149, 56%). Ampicillin and gentamicin, with third-generation cephalosporins reserved for cases where meningitis is suspected, would have provided effective coverage for 98.5% of infants and unnecessarily broad therapy for 4.3%. Third-generation cephalosporins with ampicillin would have been effective for 98.5% of infants and unnecessarily broad for 83.8%. Third-generation cephalosporin monotherapy was less effective than either combination (P < 0.001). Fifty-seven percent of broad spectrum empiric therapy was continued despite culture results allowing de-escalation. Conclusions Ampicillin/gentamicin remains an effective empiric regimen for infants 60 days or younger with suspected SBI. Use of a third-generation cephalosporin for suspected meningitis is appropriate, but cerebrospinal fluid must be obtained promptly to guide appropriate therapy.
AB - Objectives To evaluate the causative agents of serious bacterial infection (SBI) in young infants and the optimal approach to empiric antibiotic therapy for infants with SBI. Methods From May 1, 2011, to December 1, 2013, pertinent clinical data were collected on previously well infants 60 days or younger with SBI as defined by a positive bacterial culture from a sterile site. Infants were identified by prospective surveillance of admissions and daily review of microbiology records. Results Two hundred sixty-five infants with SBI were identified. Mean age was 32 days (SD ±16.6 days). Twenty-nine infants had meningitis, 66 had bacteremia (37 with concomitant urinary tract infection), and 170 had urinary tract infection alone. No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus sp., or penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were identified. Four extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing gram-negative bacilli were seen. Empiric therapy was ampicillin and gentamicin (n = 116, 44%) or third-generation cephalosporin based (n = 149, 56%). Ampicillin and gentamicin, with third-generation cephalosporins reserved for cases where meningitis is suspected, would have provided effective coverage for 98.5% of infants and unnecessarily broad therapy for 4.3%. Third-generation cephalosporins with ampicillin would have been effective for 98.5% of infants and unnecessarily broad for 83.8%. Third-generation cephalosporin monotherapy was less effective than either combination (P < 0.001). Fifty-seven percent of broad spectrum empiric therapy was continued despite culture results allowing de-escalation. Conclusions Ampicillin/gentamicin remains an effective empiric regimen for infants 60 days or younger with suspected SBI. Use of a third-generation cephalosporin for suspected meningitis is appropriate, but cerebrospinal fluid must be obtained promptly to guide appropriate therapy.
KW - antibiotic
KW - infant
KW - serious bacterial infection
KW - stewardship
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84939549064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84939549064&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000400
DO - 10.1097/PEC.0000000000000400
M3 - Article
C2 - 25822235
AN - SCOPUS:84939549064
SN - 0749-5161
VL - 31
SP - 568
EP - 571
JO - Pediatric Emergency Care
JF - Pediatric Emergency Care
IS - 8
ER -