Background Antifungal stewardship may help reduce the toxicity, cost, and emergence of resistance related to inappropriate antifungal use. A better understanding of antifungal prescribing patterns, particularly in high-risk, high-utilization populations, is needed to guide appropriate stewardship interventions. We analyzed antifungal prescribing characteristics, including the indications for use and differences between oncology/bone marrow transplant (Onc/BMT) and non-Onc/BMT patients, using a multi-center national cohort of hospitalized children. Methods We analyzed antifungal prescribing data from 32 hospitals that participated in the SHARPS Antibiotic Resistance, Prescribing, and Efficacy among Children (SHARPEC) study, a point prevalence survey conducted quarterly between June 2016 and December 2017. We included inpatients Results Six percent (2,095/34,927) of patients received a total of 2,207 antifungal prescriptions. Fifty-eight percent (1,291/2,207) of antifungal prescriptions were for Onc/BMT patients. Among patients prescribed an antifungal, those with an Onc/BMT diagnosis were older, received broader-spectrum agents, and were more likely to receive combination therapy (Table 1). The majority of antifungal use in the Onc/BMT group was for prophylaxis, with significant variation in the rate and choice of prophylactic antifungal prescribing across hospitals (Figure 1). Combination antifungal use was common among Onc/BMT patients receiving targeted therapy (Table 2). Conclusion The majority of antifungal use among hospitalized children is for patients with an Onc/BMT diagnosis and the patterns of antifungal utilization in this population appear to differ significantly from non-Onc/BMT patients. Based on the variation observed in this nationwide cohort, potential stewardship targets include the rate and type of antifungal prophylaxis and the use of combination therapy in Onc/BMT patients. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.
