Pharmacotherapy
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To compare clinical and microbiologic outcomes in adults without cystic fibrosis who had Pseudomonas aeruginosa bronchial colonization and were receiving inhaled colistin or colistin plus tobramycin with those who were receiving inhaled tobramycin as outpatient treatment. ⋯ Results with colistin were similar to those with tobramycin for inhaled treatment of P. aeruginosa colonization in this population; however, combined use of colistin and tobramycin appeared to be associated with fewer days of hospitalization and shorter duration of antibiotic treatment. Prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of outpatient nebulized antibiotics, especially colistin plus tobramycin, should be performed to ascertain the efficacy of this therapy for treatment of P. aeruginosa colonization in patients without cystic fibrosis.
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The field of critical care medicine began to flourish only within the last 40 years, yet it provides some of the best examples of collaborative pharmacy practice models and evidence for the value of pharmacist involvement in interdisciplinary practice. This collaborative approach is fostered by critical care organizations that have elected pharmacists into leadership positions and recognized pharmacists through various honors. There is substantial literature to support the value of the critical care pharmacist as a member of an interdisciplinary intensive care unit (ICU) team, particularly in terms of patient safety. ⋯ As the published evidence supporting pharmacist involvement in patient care activities in the ICU setting has increased, surveys have demonstrated an increase in the percentage of pharmacists performing clinical activities. In addition, substantial support of pharmacists has been provided by other clinicians, safety officers, and administrative personnel who have been involved with the initiation and expansion of critical care pharmacy services in their own institutions. Although there is still room for improvement in the range of pharmacist involvement, particularly with respect to interdisciplinary activities related to education and scholarship, pharmacists have become essential members of interdisciplinary care teams in ICU settings.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of bivalirudin and argatroban for the management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.
To compare the effectiveness of bivalirudin and argatroban in achieving anticoagulation goals and to compare clinical outcomes assessing the safety and efficacy in patients with known or suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). ⋯ Bivalirudin and argatroban were similar in achieving and maintaining therapeutic anticoagulation goals, clinical outcomes, and safety. This study suggests that bivalirudin represents an alternative in the management of HIT, but prospective studies are needed.
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To estimate the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in people in the United Kingdom at low risk for influenza during an 11-year period from July 1996-June 2007. ⋯ Seasonal influenza vaccination provided substantial protection against clinically diagnosed influenza when given within 4 months of annual seasonal outbreaks in people at low risk. A review of the incidence of influenza over the 11-year period provides compelling indirect evidence that influenza vaccines were similarly effective in those who were at high risk. These results provide a useful background to current and future influenza outbreaks whose course is uncertain.
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Colistin is a polymyxin antibiotic that was discovered in the late 1940s for the treatment of gram-negative infections. After several years of clinical use, its popularity diminished because of reports of significant nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Recently, the antibiotic has resurfaced as a last-line treatment option for multidrug-resistant organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. ⋯ Therefore, dosage alterations in this patient population are imperative to achieve maximal efficacy and minimal toxicity. With regard to colistin toxicity, most studies show that nephrotoxicity is reversible and less frequent than once thought, and neurotoxicity is rare. Further research is needed to fully understand the impact that the two regulatory systems have on resistance, as well as the dosages of colistin needed to inhibit and overcome these developing patterns.