Antimicrobial defined daily dose adjusted by weight: a proposal for antibiotic consumption measurement in children

Abstract

Introduction

Antimicrobial defined daily dose (DDD), has limitations for antimicrobial consumption measurement in paediatrics. An alternative DDD design applicable for children is proposed.

Methods

Children (<16 years-old) from 10 Spanish hospitals during a 12-months period were included. Weight for age (50th percentile) was calculated for the median age of the cohort using standardized World Health Organization tables. DDD (g) for each antimicrobial was calculated by multiplying the obtained weight times the recommended dose (mg/kg) of the antimicrobial for the most common infectious indication.

Results

A total of 40,575 children were included. Median age was 4.17 (IQR: 1.36–8.98) and 4.81 (IQR: 1.42–9.60) years for boys and girls, respectively. Mean weight for this age was 17.08 kg. Standardized DDD for representative antimicrobials were calculated.

Conclusions

A useful method for antimicrobial DDD measurement in paediatrics has been proposed and should be validated in future studies for its use in paediatric antimicrobial stewardship programmes.

Resumen

Introducción

La dosis diaria definida (DDD), tiene limitaciones para la medición del consumo antimicrobiano en pediatría. Se propone un diseño aplicable en niños.

Métodos

Se incluyeron niños (<16 años) de 10 hospitales españoles durante un periodo de 12 meses. A partir de la mediana de edad de la cohorte, utilizando tablas estandarizadas de la OMS, se obtuvo el peso correspondiente al percentil P50 de esa edad. Se calculó la DDD (gr) multiplicando el peso obtenido por la dosis recomendada (mg/kg) de cada antimicrobiano para su indicación más común.

Resultados

Un total de 40575 niños fueron incluidos. La mediana de edad fue 4,17 (RIQ: 1,36–8,98) y 4,81 (RIQ: 1,42–9,60) años para niños y niñas, respectivamente. Peso medio para la edad: 17,08 kg. DDD estandarizadas fueron calculadas para antimicrobianos representativos.

Conclusiones

Se ha propuesto un método útil para monitorizar consumo antimicrobiano en pediatría utilizando DDD adaptadas, que deberá validarse en futuros estudios.