Abstract
Background
Vancomycin is very commonly used in combination with piperacillin–tazobactam (PTZ) as the initial empiric treatment for moderate–severe infection, whenever coverage for both methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is required. The combination of vancomycin and PTZ in adults has recently been reported to significantly increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) relative to vancomycin monotherapy; such reports in pediatrics, however, are sparse.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted of pediatric patients, aged 0–14 years, who were admitted to the general wards or intensive care unit and developed AKI after receiving vancomycin and PTZ concomitantly for >48 h. AKI is defined as a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥50% from baseline. Cases were identified by reviewing the Adverse Drug Reaction program database at King Saud University Medical City in Saudi Arabia from January 2015 to June 2016.
Results
Eight children admitted to the present hospital and who received concomitant vancomycin and PTZ treatment for pneumonia (n = 7) or febrile neutropenia (n = 1) developed drug‐induced nephrotoxicity. Drug Interaction Probability Scale (DIPS) score for causation assessment was 9 in all cases (highly probable).
Conclusion
Caution in utilizing the combination of vancomycin and PTZ is warranted in pediatric patients. Health‐care professionals should be vigilant if this combination is to be initiated, and ensure close monitoring of renal function. Antibiotic therapy de‐escalation should be considered as soon as culture results are available.