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 · Aug 2013
ReviewDescription of outbreaks of health-care-associated infections related to compounding pharmacies, 2000-12.
Outbreaks of health-care-associated infections related to compounding pharmacies from 2000 through 2012 are described. ⋯ Before the nationwide 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak, drugs produced by compounding pharmacies were associated with 11 other smaller, but equally serious, outbreaks that occurred sporadically over the past 12 years. Lapses in sterile compounding procedures led to contamination of compounded drugs, exposure to patients, and a threat to public health in these outbreaks. Recognition and subsequent public health investigation were usually triggered by the occurrence of illness among multiple patients in a single health care setting.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2013
Multicenter StudyBiological contamination of insulin pens in a hospital setting.
Biological contamination of insulin pens in a hospital setting was studied. ⋯ Examination of 125 insulin pens used in hospitals revealed hemoglobin in 1 pen and at least one cell in another 6 pens. The nine detected cells consisted of four squamous epithelial cells, four macrophages, and one RBC.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2013
ReviewVemurafenib and ipilimumab: new agents for metastatic melanoma.
The development and place in therapy of vemurafenib and ipilimumab for the treatment of metastatic melanoma are reviewed. ⋯ Vemurafenib and ipilimumab are important advances in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Benefit is typically short lived for vemurafenib and uncommon for ipilimumab. Neither agent is curative, and clinical trials remain an alternative first-line treatment option.
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Jul 2013
Comparative StudyPreapproval and postapproval availability of published comparative efficacy research on biological agents.
Preapproval and postapproval availability of published comparative efficacy studies on biological agents approved between 2000 and 2010 was investigated. ⋯ Nearly half of all biological agents approved for marketing between 2000 and 2010 lacked publicly accessible, active-controlled efficacy studies at the time of drug approval; a slightly greater proportion of biological agents had comparative efficacy data published subsequent to their approval.