Association between a rapid diagnostic test to detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus pneumonia and decreased vancomycin use in a medical intensive care unit over a 30-month period

Vancomycin overuse is common, yet few data are available regarding how to improve stewardship of this antibiotic. We identify an association between use of a PCR assay to rule out MRSA pneumonia and a significant, sustained decrease in average vancomycin days of therapy over a 30-month period.