American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Nov 2011
Improving patient care through implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program.
The implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program at a health system is described. ⋯ Implementation of an antimicrobial stewardship program at a health system helped decrease the inappropriate use of antibiotics, improve patient care and outcomes, further clinical research, and increase training opportunities for future clinical infectious diseases pharmacists.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Nov 2011
Improving adherence to best-practice guidelines for venous thromboembolism risk assessment and prevention.
The effectiveness of a program to improve adherence to best-practice guidelines for venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment and prevention in a community hospital setting was evaluated. ⋯ The appointment of a nurse case manager trained in anticoagulation and the development of an automated VTE-risk-assessment tool to identify patients at high risk of VTE were associated with improved adherence to best-practice guidelines for VTE risk assessment and prevention.
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Vancomycin dosages in overweight and obese children were evaluated. ⋯ A study of prescribing behavior in one hospital revealed no significant difference in the size of vancomycin doses (in milligrams per kilogram) given to normal-weight children compared with overweight or obese children. Regimens using every-eight-hour dosing were significantly more likely than other regimens to result in a vancomycin trough concentration of 5-15 μg/mL, and regimens for obese children, compared with regimens for nonobese children, were less likely to produce trough concentrations in the same range of 5-15 μg/mL.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Nov 2011
ReviewLorcaserin: an investigational serotonin 2C agonist for weight loss.
The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and adverse effects of the selective serotonin (5-HT) agonist lorcaserin are reviewed, with an emphasis on efficacy and safety data from Phase III clinical trials. ⋯ Lorcaserin, a 5-HT(2C) agonist, has demonstrated efficacy in patients who are obese or are overweight with associated comorbidities. Phase III trials have found that more than 35% of patients lost greater than 5% of their baseline weight. The maker of lorcaserin has indicated it will continue to seek U.S. marketing approval of the drug for the indications of long-term weight loss and weight-loss maintenance in specific patient populations.