Retrospective Drug Utilization Evaluation of Vancomycin Usage in Infectious Wards and Intensive Care Units in Hamedan Teaching Hospitals, April to September ۲۰۲۰

Background: Drug utilization evaluation (DUE) was performed to assess using drugs with special conditions such as antibiotics. Vancomycin is one of the essential antibiotics that is effective on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, but unreasonable use of vancomycin, in addition to cost, leads to outbreak microbial resistance, which is a concern for health care systems all around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate vancomycin use in teaching hospitals in Hamedan, Iran. Methods: This retrospective study was performed on patients who received vancomycin for at least ۷۲ hours in intensive care units and infectious wards between April and September ۲۰۲۰ in the teaching hospitals of Hamedan. Data were obtained from patients’ medical records and entered into predesigned checklists. Results: From ۶۶۱ patients, ۴۴۱ were males and ۲۴۷ were females. They received vancomycin for an average of ۵.۷۵ days. The most prevalent indication for vancomycin use was surgery. Only ۴۰ patients had sensitive microbial culture to vancomycin, while ۳۵۶ of them (۵۳.۹%) had no microbial culture at all. According to HICPAC guidelines, the overall appropriate use of vancomycin was ۴۴.۸%. Conclusion: According to the results, the irrational use of vancomycin must be corrected to achieve maximum optimal use; thus, performing and adhering to microbial culture, deploying clinical pharmacists, and holding explanatory sessions for health care are recommended for this purpose.