Appropriateness of glycopeptide use in a hospital in Italy

The aims of this study were to quantify the rate of inappropriate glycopeptide use. The study was carried out by reviewing all medical records of patients who received a glycopeptide in a hospital located in Italy. A total of 452 patients received glycopeptides, with a rate of inappropriate use of 90.9%. Appropriateness of glycopeptide prescriptions was significantly higher in Intensive Care Units compared with surgical wards (odds ratio (OR) = 0.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.01–0.14), in younger patients (OR = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.95–0.99) and in those patients who received the prescription for therapy rather than prophylaxis (OR = 0.2; 95% CI = 0.06–0.66). Models were also developed to predict appropriateness of glycopeptide indications for therapy and prophylaxis. The information obtained in our audit may enable development of strategies to improve physician prescribing patterns.