The Annals of pharmacotherapy
-
Review
Prophylaxis and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus in adult immunocompromised patients.
To review the literature regarding current strategies and strategies under active development for the prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in immunocompromised adults. ⋯ Research most strongly supports the use of aerosolized ribavirin as the treatment strategy for immunocompromised adults with RSV. Addition of an immunomodulator may provide a survival benefit over ribavirin alone. Strategies and supportive data for the prevention of RSV infection in the high-risk adult are critically needed.
-
Case Reports
Dabigatran-induced gastrointestinal bleeding in an elderly patient with moderate renal impairment.
To report a case of dabigatran-induced overanticoagulation in a patient who developed acute renal failure and to inform health care providers of the need for appropriate patient selection and periodic monitoring of renal function in the elderly. ⋯ Our case report, along with 2 other recent reports on dabigatran toxicity, illustrates the importance for appropriate patient selection and the need to periodically monitor renal function in elderly patients receiving dabigatran.
-
Opportunities for pharmacy practice reform exist at state and national levels. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy created a working group to assess these opportunities with a mission to advance pharmacy practice in Virginia. ⋯ VCU preceptors, students, and faculty members overwhelmingly believe that pharmacists should provide direct patient care and MTM activities. To transform pharmacy practice, it will be important to define the pharmacist's role, responsibilities, and expected outcomes and to consider time, staffing, and compensation as well as to engage patients and providers.
-
Medication discrepancies have the potential to cause harm. Medication reconciliation by clinical pharmacists aims to prevent discrepancies and other drug-related problems. ⋯ Discrepancies in the physician-acquired medication history at admission do not always correlate with discrepancies during hospitalization because of clinical pharmacists' interventions; however, discrepancies at admission may be associated with at least half of the discrepancies at discharge. Clinical pharmacist-conducted medication reconciliation can reduce these discrepancies, provided the erroneous information in the physician-acquired medication history is corrected and each intentional change in the medication plan is well documented during hospitalization and at discharge.
-
Key factors outside of health-system pharmacy that will shape this sector of the profession in the coming years are (1) the national economy, (2) national politics, (3) the debt of the federal government, (4) global megatrends (including terrorism and economic globalization), (5) health care reform, and (6) trends in the development and use of medicines. These factors will translate into payment cutbacks to hospitals, expanded mandates to improve the quality of health care, increased focus on patient-centered care, more team-based care, and a higher degree of integration across the range of health care settings and providers. ⋯ Key recommendations of the PPMI and evidence about gaps in the provision of drug therapy management services are presented. It is important for every pharmacist and pharmacy technician in health-system practice to understand the imperatives for changing the profession's practice model and to actively pursue appropriate changes in that model.