To examine the impact of a new policy to ensure appropriate use of vancomycin in a 461-bed tertiary-care hospital.

We instituted a policy that allowed physicians to prescribe vancomycin but that required them to complete a vancomycin continuation form and document that use conformed to Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) guidelines if they wished to continue the drug beyond 72 hours. Vancomycin was stopped automatically at 72 hours if use was not consistent with guidelines, if an infectious diseases consultant did not approve the drug, or if the form was not completed. A pharmacist and infectious diseases specialist monitored use of vancomycin prospectively and interacted with prescribers when indicated. Educational efforts were limited to printing the HICPAC guidelines on the form and providing information about the policy in a newsletter. Patterns of prescribing and the economic impact of the form were evaluated over a 6-month period.

Only 29% to 48% of vancomycin orders initially met HICPAC guidelines, but 77% to 96% of use was appropriate after 72 hours when the form was used. Inappropriate surgical prophylaxis, empirical therapy of intensive-care unit and transplant patients, and therapy for inadequately documented coagulase-negative staphylococcal infections remained problems. Vancomycin use fell from a mean of 136 (±52) g/1,000 patient days in the 12 months before the form to 78 (±22) g/1,000 patient days in the 9 months after institution of the form (P<.05). Net vancomycin acquisition costs and costs of ordering vancomycin serum levels fell by $357 and $19 per 1,000 patient days, respectively (P<.05). This represented annualized saving of approximately $47,000 in drug and monitoring costs. No adverse patient outcomes were seen as a result of the program.

A vancomycin continuation form can decrease inappropriate vancomycin use and may save money. Additional educational efforts may be required to increase compliance with HICPAC guidelines during initial prescribing.