Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Bronchiolitis is one of the most common diseases of the lower respiratory tract in infants. Vitamin D has been shown to be protective against lower respiratory infections; however, there are limited and contradictory results in relation to serum vitamin D level and the incidence of bronchiolitis in children. The aim of this study was to compare serum levels of this vitamin in healthy infants and infants with acute bronchiolitis.
Methods: This case-control study conducted at Abuzar hospital in Ahvaz city, during October to March of 2014. Three groups of 45 eligible infants including control, low and high intensity of bronchiolitis enrolled to study. The severity of bronchiolitis classified according to scores derived from the respiratory distress assessment index. One to eight scores considered as low intensity and 9 to 17 scores considered as high intensity of bronchiolitis. Subsequently, 3 ml of venous blood sample were taken from them and the serum levels of 25(OH)D were measured by using an enzymatic kit.
Results: 60 (44.4%) infants were girls. The mean age of the control, low and high intensity of bronchiolitis groups were 11.2±5.2, 10±5.8 and 9.8±4.7 months, respectively (P=0.1). The mean of 25(OH)D concentrations in the control, low and high intensity bronchiolitis groups were 28.3±19.4, 17.7±11.7 and 13.6±5.7 nm/l, respectively. There was a significant difference in levels of 25(OH)D between the control-low intensity bronchiolitis groups (P=0.001) and the control-high intensity bronchiolitis groups (P=0.002), this difference was not significant between the two groups of bronchiolitis. There was a direct and significant correlation between serum level of 25(OH)D and age (r=0.2, P=0.005), breast milk consumption (r=0.3, P=0.001), and vitamin D supplementation (r=0.6, P=0.000).
Conclusion: In the present study, levels of 25(OH)D were significantly lower in infants with bronchiolitis than control group. In addition, 25(OH)D levels did not affect the severity of bronchiolitis.

Background: Vancomycin resistance in intensive care units has significant complications and additional costs. Given the need for rational use of this antibiotic to prevent the occurrence of antibiotic resistance, the present study was designed to evaluate how to prescribe the antibiotic vancomycin consumption pattern in a pediatric subspecialty hospital.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted over a 3-month period (February, May, and June) in 2021 at the Pediatric Hospital of Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz. All patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit and infectious disease ward with vancomycin prescription were included in the study. Patients who were hospitalized for less than three days or had no desire to enter the study were excluded from the study. Vancomycin prescription by clinical pharmacist was reviewed based on the latest version of Lexicomp from Wolters Kluwer and the National Health Service (NHS) guidelines.

Results: Of the 91 hospitalized patients, 70.3% (64 cases) were prescribed vancomycin without performing an antibiogram culture based on experience and 29.7% (27 cases) were based on an antibiogram culture. In 96.7% (88 cases) , the duration of intravenous vancomycin infusion did not comply with the protocol. Red Man Syndrome was observed in 8.8% (8 cases). In 91.2 % (83 cases), no adverse effects were reported. In 65.9% (60 cases), the drug dose was determined based on the correct renal function Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and in 34.1%, the drug dose was determined regardless of the renal function of the patients. Vancomycin doses were lower and higher than the guidelines in 6 and 25 patients, respectively. Out of all patients, eighty four cases recovered and seven cases died. Conclusion: In almost half of the patients, Vancomycin were prescribed based on experience and without performing an antibiogram test. Use of guidelines, Serum level monitoring programs and continuous medical education for doctors can be effective in rational use of antibiotics.