Interventions targeting the prescribing and monitoring of vancomycin for hospitalized patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Cameron J Phillips,1–4 Alice J Wisdom,5 Ross A McKinnon,2,3,6 Richard J Woodman,7 David L Gordon2,8,9 1SA Pharmacy, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia; 2College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; 3School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Division of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; 4Infectious Diseases and Immunity, Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London W12 0NN, UK; 5SA Pharmacy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, Adelaide, SA 5112, Australia; 6Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; 7Flinders Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; 8SA Pathology, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia; 9Division of Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia Purpose: Vancomycin prescribing requires individualized dosing and monitoring to ensure efficacy, limit toxicity, and minimize resistance. Although there are nationally endorsed guidelines from several countries addressing the complexities of vancomycin dosing and monitoring, there is limited consideration of how to implement these recommendations effectively.Methods: We conducted a systematic search of multiple databases to identify relevant comparative studies describing the impact of interventions of educational meetings, implementation of guidelines, and dissemination of educational material on vancomycin dosing, monitoring, and nephrotoxicity. Effect size was assessed using ORs and pooled data analyzed using forest plots to provide overall effect measures. Results: Six studies were included. All studies included educational meetings. Two studies used implementation of guidance, educational meetings, and dissemination of educational materials, one used guidance and educational meetings, one educational meetings and dissemination of educational materials, and two used educational meetings solely. Effect sizes for individual studies were more likely to be significant for multifaceted interventions. In meta-analysis, the overall effect of interventions on outcome measures of vancomycin dosing was OR 2.50 (95% CI 1.29–4.84); P< 0.01. A higher proportion of sampling at steady-state concentration was seen following intervention (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.26–3.02; P