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Am J Perinatol 2016; 33(04): 370-377
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1564587
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Trends in Medication Use in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants in a Level 3 NICU over 2 Decades

Rashmi Gulati
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
,
Mohamad T. Elabiad
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
,
Ajay J. Talati
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
,
Ramasubbareddy Dhanireddy
1   Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

07 April 2015

17 August 2015

Publication Date:
15 October 2015 (online)

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Abstract

Objective This study aims to study the association between trends in medication utilization and survival in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants over a 22-year period.

Study Design Medications received by VLBW infants were extracted retrospectively for the four periods 1990 to 1994, 1995 to 2000, 2001 to 2005, and 2006 to 2011 from our perinatal database and stratified by two birth weight groups: ≤ 1,000 g and 1,001 to 1,500 g.

Result A total of 5,529 VLBW infants were reviewed. The majority of them were African American (78%), with an increasing proportion over time. The median number of medications per patient in all VLBW infants remained similar over time, 9 (5, 15). A cardiovascular group of medications was most commonly used, with a significant increase in the use of dobutamine and indomethacin. A significant trend toward an increasing number of infants without any antibiotic exposure was also noted. Survival steadily and significantly increased from 83 to 87%.

Conclusion The trends of overall medication use remained the same in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) over the past 22 years. There was no association between medication utilization and survival. VLBW infants continue to receive a high number of medications in the NICU, including a variety of antibiotics.

Keywords

preterm - antibiotics - cardiovascular
 

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