Empiric Vancomycin Reduction in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Background: At our institution, empirical vancomycin is overused in children with suspected bacterial community-acquired infections (CAIs) admitted to the PICU because of high community rates of methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Our goal was to reduce unnecessary vancomycin use for CAIs in the PICU.

Methods: Empirical PICU vancomycin indications for suspected CAIs were developed by using epidemiological risk factors for MRSA.