International journal of clinical pharmacy
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Background Non-prescription dispensing of antibiotics is common in Nigeria and this could contribute to the emergence of microbial resistance. Objectives To evaluate knowledge, perception and practices of community pharmacists towards dispensing antibiotics without prescription. Setting Community pharmacies in two cities in Northern Nigeria. ⋯ The malpractice was associated with number of years of community pharmacy experience. Confidence in knowledge of antibiotic therapy was the main reason community pharmacists dispensed antibiotics without prescription. Continuous pharmacy education and training on handling of antibiotics may help to reduce inappropriate practices among community pharmacists.
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Background Information on the extent of high-risk prescribing for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) across developing countries is scarce. Objectives This study examines the prescribing pattern for NSAIDs in primary care, assesses the extent of high-risk NSAIDs prescribing and identifies associated factors. Setting 129 public and 416 private primary care clinics in Malaysia. ⋯ Patients' citizenship, indication for NSAID prescriptions and whether a medical certificate was issued were also significantly associated with the likelihood of receiving high-risk NSAID prescriptions. Conclusions A quarter of NSAIDs prescribed in Malaysian primary care setting is categorised as high-risk prescribing. Targeted strategies are necessary to improve patient safety.
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Observational Study
Hemodynamic changes in surgical intensive care unit patients undergoing echinocandin treatment.
Background Echinocandins are well-established agents for the treatment of patients with fungal infections, but growing evidence questions their safety in special patient populations prone to systemic inflammatory responses. Objective The study aimed to analyse early hemodynamic changes during echinocandin therapy in critically ill surgical patients. Setting The study was conducted at the surgical intensive care unit at the University Hospital of Giessen, Germany. ⋯ Secondary analysis of the combined anidulafungin/caspofungin group to the azoles group (fluconazole, voriconazole) showed a significant decrease of mean arterial pressure ≥ 10 mmHg (n = 37 [25%] vs. n = 27 [15%], OR = 1.8, p = 0.04), increased use of norepinephrine (n = 38 [26%] vs. n = 12 [7%], OR = 4.7, p ≤ 0.001), increased use of dobutamine (n = 12 [8%] vs. n = 4 [2%], OR = 3.8, p = 0.02), and the combined endpoint (n = 74 [50%] vs. n = 38 [21%], OR = 3.6, p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion Our retrospective data might demonstrate clinically relevant hemodynamic-depressing effects of anidulafungin and caspofungin. Further prospective acquisition of clinical data will be necessary to evaluate their impact on hemodynamic function.
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Observational Study
Antibiotic de-escalation therapy in patients with community-acquired nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia.
Background De-escalation therapy is recommended as an effective antibiotic treatment strategy for several infectious diseases. While there is limited evidence supporting its clinical and cost-effective outcomes in patients with community-acquired bacteremic pneumonia, there is no evidence in patients with nonbacteremic pneumonia. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the antibiotic costs in patients who did and did not receive de-escalation therapy, based on the 2017 Japanese guidelines for the management of community-acquired nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia of the Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS). ⋯ The differences in the median length of hospital stay and the incidence of adverse drug reactions between the two groups were not statistically significant (p = 0.67 and 1.0, respectively). However, the median total antibiotic cost per infected patient in the de-escalated group was significantly lower than that in the non-de-escalated group [$269.8 ($195-$389) vs. $420.5 ($221-$799), p = 0.048]. Conclusion Antibiotic de-escalation based on the 2017 JRS guidelines leads to a reduction in total antibiotic costs for the management of community-acquired nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia.
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Background There has been a worldwide exponential rise in simulation use in health professions education. Most of the evidence about simulation-based education (SBE) comes from Western educational systems. Little is known about simulation use in the education and training of pharmacy students and pharmacists in the Middle Eastern countries. ⋯ Conclusion Pharmacists in Kuwait have diverse experiences regarding simulation use for learning. They expressed positive attitudes toward simulation use for learning clinical skills. Efforts are needed to standardize and expand simulation use in the education and training of pharmacy students, trainees and practitioners to equip them with the clinical skills essential for pharmacy practice.