Antimicrobials are the most frequently prescribed drugs in long-term care facilities (LTCF). Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) are coordinated interventions promoting the responsible use of ...antibiotics to improve patient outcomes and reduce antibiotic resistant bacterias. The objectives are to evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led ASP in a LTCF, to characterise antibiotic therapy and assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions. A prospective quasi-experimental study to implement an ASP in a LTCF. Antibiotic prescriptions for suspected infections initiated in any setting for LTCF residents were included. We assessed appropriateness and prospective audits and feedback of each inappropriate antimicrobial prescription were carried out. Associations of variables with appropriate antibiotic prescribing were estimated using logistic regression. A total of 416 antibiotic prescriptions were included. The mean consumption of antibiotics was reduced from 63.2 defined daily doses per 1000 residents-days (DRD) in the preintervention period to 22.8 in the intervention period (- 63.8%), with a signifcant drop in fluoroquinolones (81.4%). Overall, 46.6% of antibiotic prescriptions were judged inappropriate, mainly because of a use not recommended in treatment guidelines (63.2%). Multivariable analysis showed that empirical therapy, some classes of antibiotics (cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, fosfomycin calcium, macrolides) and prescription initiation in the emergency department were independent predictors of antimicrobial inappropriateness. Pharmacist-led ASP in a LTCF has being effective in reducing consumption of antibiotics by improving appropriateness of treatment decisions. However, ASP should include interventions in the emergency department because of the high inappropriate use in this setting.
Introducción: A propósito de la conmemoración de los 58 años de la graduación de la “Promoción Bicentenario de los estudios médicos en Venezuela”, UCV, 1963, se realiza una investigación histórica ...acerca de los acontecimientos que sucedieron en Venezuela particularmente en la Universidad Central de Venezuela, entre 1957-1963.
The aim of this study was to evaluate, through the creation of a specific questionnaire, the information quality in mobile applications (apps) aimed at human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected ...patients. We also established a quality rating and identified the main strengths and weaknesses of this kind of health app.
Smartphone apps specifically related to HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) were searched. We conducted a key word search with the terms "HIV," "AIDS," and "acquired immune deficiency syndrome" in the Apple™ (Cupertino, CA) App Store and the Android™ Google™ (Mountain View, CA) Play Store. A questionnaire was developed based on the different quality recommendations for health apps up to December 2012. The recommendations consulted were as follows: the Happtique Health App Certification Program, the Food and Drug Administration (Mobile Medical Applications), and recommendations for the design, use, and evaluation of health apps of the Agency of Health Quality in Andalusia. A group of 17 experts assessed the importance of the different sections by using a Delphi method.
In total, 41 health apps were analyzed. Only one app (2.4%), called in Practice HIV, approached class A. The remaining were classed as follows: 2 (4.9%) class B, 1 (2.4%) class C, 5 (12.2%) class D and E, and 27 (65.9%) class F (not exceeding minimum criteria). The design and the relevance were highlighted among the strengths. The main areas for improvement are provision of services and confidentiality in addition to privacy policies.
The quality of the revised apps is limited. Only one app complied with the excellence criteria, and over 50% of the apps did not exceed minimum quality standards. The worst rated aspects were political advertising and logical security.
Chest wall progression of breast carcinoma affects up to 5% of breast cancer patients and is a major source of their pain. Treatment options are limited or may not be offered to these patients. ...Low-dose Photofrin-induced photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers an excellent clinical response with minimal morbidity. We report our continued experience with PDT in this setting.
Fourteen patients with more than 500 truncal metastases were treated with PDT. All received off-label Photofrin (.8 mg/kg) i.v. and light treatment at 630 nm from a diode laser with a microlens at a fluence of 1800 mW and a total light dose of 150 to 200 J/cm2 at 48 hours. One patient required re-treatment because of extensive disease.
Follow-up was at least 6 months, and several extended to >24 months. All patients demonstrated tumor necrosis, with 9 of 14 complete responses, including with lesions >2 cm in thickness. Disease progression occurred outside of the treatment field. Several patients had initial regression of untreated lesions. Wound care, especially with disease in the deep tissues, was an issue.
Low-dose Photofrin-induced PDT offers patients with chest wall progression a treatment option with an excellent clinical response. To date, the response is prolonged and offers good local control. Surgical oncologists have an active role in this treatment option.
Pharmacists may be tasked to lead antibiotic stewardship programmes (ASP) implementation in small hospitals in absence of infectious diseases (ID) physicians. The objectives are to evaluate the ...effectiveness of a pharmacist-led ASP in a hospital without ID physician support, with special focus on indicators of the hospital use of antimicrobial agents based on consumption and asess the potential clinical and economic impact of pharmacist interventions (PIs) through the CLEO tool. A prospective quasi-experimental study to implement an ASP in a 194-bed hospital. We evaluated changes in antimicrobial use measured as mean defined daily doses per 1000 patient-days (AUD) for intervention versus preintervention period. A total of 847 antimicrobial PIs were proposed, being 88.3% accepted. Discontinuation due to excessive duration was the most frequently performed PI (23.4%). Most of PIs was classified as major or moderate clinical impact, 41.7% and 37.8% respectively. The global consumption of antimicrobial was reduced from 907.1 to 693.8 AUD, with a signifcant drop in carbapenems and quinolones. Direct expenditure of antibiotics decreased significantly. Pharmacist-led ASP has being effective in reducing consumption of antibiotics. In the absence of ID physician´s support and oversight, pharmacists could lead the improvement of the use of antimicrobials.
The diagnosis of breast cancer or melanoma in a pregnant patient presents some unique and difficult challenges for both patients and providers. Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy ...has become an attractive alternative to elective lymphadenectomy procedures for patients with breast cancer and melanoma. However, there is no data on the safety or utility of sentinel node mapping in pregnant patients. Therefore, we reviewed our experience with mapping in gravid patients. Academic institutions throughout North Carolina were asked to contribute cases of mapping performed during pregnancy. A total of nine women underwent sentinel node mapping during pregnancy. All nine were Caucasian with an average age of 32. SLN were found in all cases and mapping procedures were for breast cancer (three), and melanoma (six). There were no adverse reactions to the SLN procedures and one patient developed a seroma at a biopsy site. All went on to have term deliveries without known adverse effects. This limited experience shows that SLN mapping procedures are feasible in pregnant patients. However, this is not a general endorsement of such procedures in pregnant patients. We suggest that potential risks of vital dye or radioactive tracers be clearly explained to the parents when the mother is a candidate for a mapping procedure, and be balanced against the risk of delaying therapy or omitting nodal staging.
Decreased antiretroviral therapy persistence is associated with increased rates of virologic failure, development of antiretroviral resistance, and increased morbidity and mortality. Different ...therapeutic strategies, such as single-tablet regimens (STR) and less-drug regimens (LDR), have been developed in order to simplify antiretroviral therapy (ART) and increase persistence.
The primary objective was to compare antiretroviral persistence among patients receiving STRs and patients receiving LDRs. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with non-persistence.
This was a retrospective study that included treatment-experienced HIV-infected patients who received ART based on STR or LDR. Baseline patient characteristics collected included demographic information, HIV risk transmission, substance abuse during the therapy, presence of psychiatric disorder and hepatitis B or C virus infection. Kaplan-Meier analysis and Log rank was utilized to compare persistence to STR and LDR. To identify independent predictors of non-persistence we developed a multivariate Cox regression analysis.
A total of 244 patients were included, 176 with STR and 68 with LDR. 60 (34.1%) patients discontinued in the STR group and 13 (19.1%) in the LDR group. The Cox regression model showed that the only variable associated with higher risk of non-persistence was the substance abuse (HR = 2.59; p = 0.005). Adverse events were the main reason for ART discontinuation in the STR group and virologic failure in the LDR group.
Persistence to STR and LDR seems to be similar in pretreated HIV-infected patients. Drug abuse was the only factor identified with a higher risk of non-persistence.
Analizar y comparar la persistencia entre las estrategias basadas en Single-Tablet Regimen (STR) y Less Drug Regimen (LDR) en pacientes VIH+. El objetivo secundario del estudio fue determinar factores predictores de persistencia.
Estudio observacional retrospectivo que incluyó los siguientes criterios: pacientes VIH+ con tratamiento antirretroviral (TAR) con un régimen basado en STR o LDR. Se recogieron variables demográficas, factores de riesgo de adquisición, consumo de drogas, presencia de algún trastorno psiquiátrico y coinfección por el virus de la hepatitis B o C. Para comparar la persistencia entre ambas estrategias se realizó un análisis de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meir y se aplicó el método de log-rank. Se realizó un análisis de regresión de Cox para identificar los factores predictores de persistencia.
Se incluyeron 244 pacientes, 176 con STR y 68 con LDR. El 34,1% (n = 60) de los pacientes que recibieron un régimen STR abandonaron y en el LDR el 19,1% (n = 13). Los efectos adversos fueron la principal causa de abandono del tratamiento en los pacientes que recibieron STR y el fallo virológico en el régimen LDR. La persistencia de las estrategias STR y LDR fue similar, no encontrándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambas. El consumo de drogas fue el único factor predictivo asociado con una menor persistencia (HR = 2,59; p = 0,005).
La persistencia entre los regímenes STR y LDR fue similar, no detectándose diferencias significativas entre ambos. El consumo de drogas fue el único factor independiente asociado con una menor persistencia del tratamiento antirretroviral.
Abstract
Antimicrobials are the most frequently prescribed drugs in long-term care facilities (LTCF). Antibiotic stewardship programs (ASP) are coordinated interventions promoting the responsible use ...of antibiotics to improve patient outcomes and reduce antibiotic resistant bacterias. The objectives are to evaluate the effectiveness of a pharmacist-led ASP in a LTCF, to characterise antibiotic therapy and assess the appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions. A prospective quasi-experimental study to implement an ASP in a LTCF. Antibiotic prescriptions for suspected infections initiated in any setting for LTCF residents were included. We assessed appropriateness and prospective audits and feedback of each inappropriate antimicrobial prescription were carried out. Associations of variables with appropriate antibiotic prescribing were estimated using logistic regression. A total of 416 antibiotic prescriptions were included. The mean consumption of antibiotics was reduced from 63.2 defined daily doses per 1000 residents-days (DRD) in the preintervention period to 22.8 in the intervention period (− 63.8%), with a signifcant drop in fluoroquinolones (81.4%). Overall, 46.6% of antibiotic prescriptions were judged inappropriate, mainly because of a use not recommended in treatment guidelines (63.2%). Multivariable analysis showed that empirical therapy, some classes of antibiotics (cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, fosfomycin calcium, macrolides) and prescription initiation in the emergency department were independent predictors of antimicrobial inappropriateness. Pharmacist-led ASP in a LTCF has being effective in reducing consumption of antibiotics by improving appropriateness of treatment decisions. However, ASP should include interventions in the emergency department because of the high inappropriate use in this setting.
To analyse the suitability of teriparatide prescriptions for osteoporosis treatment in a health management area, as well as the level of acceptance of pharmacotherapeutic recommendations made to ...physicians.
A prospective interventional study conducted from february 2015 to june 2015.
South Seville Health Management Area.
Patients receiving teriparatide.
Suitability of teriparatide prescriptions according to Clinical Practice Guidelines and level of acceptance of pharmacotherapeutic recommendations.
Teriparatide prescriptions were unsuitable in 45 patients (68.2%); 11 due to no indication, 17 patients did not have previous treatments with first-line drugs, 6 due to contraindications and 9 patients were treated for more than 24 months with the drug. Besides, 4 prescriptions were unsuitable because of combination with other therapies. The acceptance of pharmacotherapeutic recommendations was 64.4%, leading to teriparatide discontinuation in 21 patients (72.4%), and a switch to alendronate or ibandronate in another 8 patients.
A high percentage of teriparatide prescriptions is unsuitable in our health care management area, but it has decreased after pharmacist intervention.
Analizar la adecuación de la prescripción de teriparatida en el tratamiento de la osteoporosis en un área de gestión sanitaria, así como el grado de aceptación por el médico de las recomendaciones de intervención realizadas.
Estudio prospectivo de intervención desde febrero de 2015 a junio de 2015.
Área de Gestión Sanitaria Sur de Sevilla.
Pacientes con prescripción activa de teriparatida.
Adecuación de la prescripción de teriparatida y grado de aceptación por el médico de las recomendaciones farmacoterapéuticas.
La prescripción de teriparatida fue inadecuada en 45 pacientes (68,2%). Once pacientes no cumplían los criterios de tratamiento, mientras que 17 no habían tenido prescrito previamente otro medicamento para la prevención de fracturas. Seis pacientes presentaban alguna contraindicación. En 9 pacientes la duración de la terapia fue superior a los 24 meses recomendados. Cuatro de ellas (dos ya inadecuadas) por combinación inadecuada con otros medicamentos. El grado de aceptación de las recomendaciones farmacoterapéuticas realizadas por farmacia fue del 64,4%, produciéndose en 21 pacientes (72,4%) la suspensión de teriparatida y en 8, el cambio a otro medicamento de primera línea: ibandrónico, en tres de ellos, y alendrónico, en el resto.
El número de pacientes con prescripciones inadecuadas de teriparatida es elevado en nuestra área, pero ha disminuido tras realizar intervenciones con recomendaciones farmacoterapéuticas de adecuación del tratamiento.
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