Vancomycin-sparing care for premature babies
Implementing vancomycin-sparing regimens in preterm infants
This project introduces care plans that use less vancomycin and prefer narrower antibiotics for preterm infants in the NICU to lower side effects and resistant bacteria.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262228 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby is born early and cared for in the NICU, doctors will follow new antibiotic plans that avoid automatic use of vancomycin and favor narrower drugs unless clearly needed. The team will create and spread vancomycin-reducing protocols, train NICU staff, and support consistent decision rules for suspected late-onset sepsis. Researchers will track antibiotic prescriptions, infection outcomes, side effects, and bacterial resistance using medical records and lab data. The aim is safer antibiotic use for preterm and low-birth-weight infants and less spread of drug-resistant germs in the unit.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Preterm infants (around ≤35 weeks gestation) and low-birth-weight babies admitted to participating NICUs who are being considered for empiric antibiotics for suspected late-onset sepsis.
Not a fit: Full-term infants cared for outside participating NICUs or babies with confirmed infections that require vancomycin (for example MRSA) are unlikely to benefit from the vancomycin-sparing approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce unnecessary vancomycin exposure, lower antibiotic side effects, and decrease antibiotic-resistant bacteria in NICUs.
How similar studies have performed: Prior single-center and smaller programs have safely reduced vancomycin use with similar protocols, but widespread adoption and sustained effects are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Children's Hosp of Philadelphia — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mukhopadhyay, Sagori — Children's Hosp of Philadelphia
- Study coordinator: Mukhopadhyay, Sagori
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.