High variability in the dosing of commonly used antibiotics revealed by a Europe-wide point prevalence study: implications for research and dissemination

Table 1 The dosing of frequently used beta-lactam antibiotics in European NICUs

Drug	PNA group	No of cases	Unit dose (mg/kg/dose)				Dosing interval (h)
			Current study; median (quartiles)	Current study; range	BNFC/Blue book	Neofax	Current study; median (quartiles)	BNFC/the Blue book	Neofax
Penicillin G	0–7 days	62	47 (27–53)	10–147	25 (50)*^#	15–30 (45–60)*	12 (12–12)	12	12
N = 88	8–28 days	21	33 (31–50)	25–61	25 (50)*^#	15–30 (45–60)*	12 (12–12)	8	8–12
	>28 days	5	40 (30–43)	28–43	25 (50)*^#	15–30 (45–60)*	12 (10–12)	6 (4)	6–8
Ampicillin	0–7 days	69	52 (50–78)	24–126	30 (60; max 62.5)*	25–50	12 (12–12)	12	12
N = 82	8–21 days	6	52 (49–96)	47–96	30 (60; max 62.5)*	25–50	8 (8–12)	8	8–12
	22–28 days	4	47 (37–86)	34–99	30 (60; max 62.5)*	25–50	12 (8–12)	6	8–12
	>28 days	3	48 (45–69)	45–69	62.5	25–50	12 (8–12)	6	6–8
Cefotaxime	0–7 days	16	46 (29–51)	10–54	25 (50)*	50	12 (12–12)	12	12
N = 32	8–21 days	12	48 (25–50)	13–53	25 (50)*	50	8 (8–12)	8	8–12
	>21 days	4	47 (16–49)	5–49	25 (50)*	50	8 (8–8)	6–8	8–12
Ceftazidime	0–7 days	6	30 (25–41)	22–53	25 (50)*&	30	12 (8–12)	24	12
N = 20	8–21 days	5	43 (32–47)	27–49	25 (50)*	30	12 (8–12)	12	8–12
	>21 days	9	36 (30–39)	24–47		30	8 (8–12)	8	8–12
Meropenem	0–7 days	10	20 (19–22)	9–39	20 (40)*	20–40*	12 (8–12)	12	12
N = 20	8–28 days	10	21 (15–30)	9–43	20 (40)*	20–40*	10 (8–12)	8	8–12

* – the dose in parentheses is recommended for severe infections and/or meningitis.
^# – for meningitis 75 mg/kg recommended in the Blue Book.
& – only the higher dose of 50 mg/kg recommended by the Blue Book.
PNA – postnatal age; BNFC – British National Formulary for Children.
The number of prescriptions with accurate dosing data available is shown for each antibiotic. Data are shown as median and quartiles.

ISSN: 1471-2431