Proton Pump Inhibitor Use in Patients With Cirrhosis and Its Association With Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

Cirrhosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) being a serious complication. Established SBP risk factors include gastrointestinal bleeding and low ascitic protein, but the role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remains unclear. This study evaluated the impact of PPI use on primary SBP development in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis.

Incidence and potential predictors of SGLT2 inhibitor initiation in acutely hospitalized patients with heart failure.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor initiation in hospitalized patients with heart failure and determine what potential factors may influence use.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective cohort analysis was conducted of hospitalized patients with heart failure. The primary outcome was the incidence of SGLT2 inhibitor initiation.

Therapeutic Options for Adult Patients With Persistent Methicillin-Susceptible Bacteremia: A Narrative Review.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of antimicrobial therapies used in the management of persistent methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) bacteremia.

Data Sources: A literature search using the PubMed database (inception to December 2022) was conducted using the search terms " bacteremia," "methicillin-susceptible bacteremia," "persistent methicillin-susceptible bacteremia," and "refractory methicillin-susceptible bacteremia ." In addition, therapeutic agents which could be used as treatment for MSSA including "nafcillin," "oxacillin," "cefazolin," "ceftaroline," "gentamicin," "rifampin," and "daptomycin" were also combined with the aforementioned search terms to capture data using these agents.

A primer on Post-COVID-19 conditions and implications for clinical pharmacists.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is largely viewed as an acute illness involving multiple organ systems. In the wake of the acute illness, many survivors fully recover and return to baseline, while others suffer from a wide range of lingering symptoms collectively known as "post-COVID conditions". The recognition of these conditions as a clinical entity represents the first step in developing a targeted plan for recovery and symptom mitigation.

Comparison of pharmacists' scoring of fall risk to other fall risk assessments.

Objectives: Given their professional education and participation within the health care system, pharmacists are ideal candidates to assess drug-associated fall risk for patients. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether pharmacists can quantitatively differentiate individuals who reported falling within the previous year (fallers) from those who do not (nonfallers), and to compare the pharmacists' evaluation with 2 recently published fall risk assessments.

Design: Cross-sectional design of pharmacists' assessments of fall risk.

Utility of the respiratory viral panel as an antimicrobial stewardship tool.

What Is Known And Objective: The development of rapid diagnostics has revolutionized antimicrobial stewardship with efforts targeting earlier de-escalation or discontinuation of antibiotics. The respiratory viral panel (RVP) is one tool quickly able to detect common viral and bacterial pathogens using polymerase chain reaction technology. Utility may be further enhanced in conjunction with procalcitonin (PCT).

Vancomycin plus piperacillin/tazobactam and acute kidney injury risk: A review of the literature.

What Is Known And Objective: Acute kidney injury is a devastating consequence observed with antibiotic therapy. The objective of this review was to summarize available data regarding the rates of acute kidney injury with vancomycin plus piperacillin/tazobactam compared to other beta-lactam combinations.

Methods: A PubMed search from 2011 to May 2020 was conducted using the following search terms: vancomycin AND piperacillin/tazobactam AND acute kidney injury.

Direct-acting oral anticoagulant use at extremes of body weight: Literature review and recommendations.

Purpose: To review the literature on treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prevention of cardioembolic stroke with direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in low- and high-body-weight patients and to make recommendations regarding agent selection and dosing in these patient populations.

Summary: The selection and optimal dosing of DOACs in low- and high-body-weight patients has not yet been fully elucidated by clinical trials; however, evidence suggests that issues of both safety and efficacy in patients at the extremes of body weight may warrant careful consideration when selecting a DOAC for such patients. This review provides a thorough discussion of the use of DOACs in the treatment of VTE and prevention of cardioembolic stroke in patients at the extremes of body weight and provides guidance regarding agent selection.

Direct oral anticoagulants in patients with cancer.

Purpose: This review summarizes the available evidence concerning direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use to treat venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with cancer as well as pertinent safety data on the use of DOACs in patients with both cancer and atrial fibrillation.

Summary: The introduction of DOACs into clinical practice changed the way thrombotic complications are managed and prevented in diverse patient populations, including VTE and atrial fibrillation. Low-molecular-weight heparins have been the standard of care for treating VTE in cancer patients due to superiority over vitamin K antagonists in preventing recurrent VTE.

Treatment strategies for persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia.

What Is Known And Objective: Treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia is a long-standing challenge to health care, often complicated by metastatic infections, treatment failure and mortality. When MRSA bacteraemia persists despite adequate initial treatment, current Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines recommend evaluation and removal of possible sources of infection. In addition, a change in therapy may be considered.

Enoxaparin Dosing at Extremes of Weight: Literature Review and Dosing Recommendations.

Objective: To review the literature on both thromboprophylaxis and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with enoxaparin in low- and high-body-weight patients and to make dosing and monitoring recommendations in these patient populations.

Data Sources: A search using PubMed was conducted (1995 to January 2018) using the following key words: enoxaparin, body weight, AND thromboprophylaxis, or AND treatment. Additional references were identified from a review of citations.

Assessment of risk factors for increased resource utilization in kidney transplantation.

Background: There are only a limited number of studies that have sought to identify patients at high risk for medication errors and subsequent adverse clinical outcomes. This study sought to identify risk factors for increased health care resource utilization in kidney transplant recipients based on drug-related problems and self-administered surveys.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, adult kidney transplant recipients seen in the transplant clinic between September and November 2015 were surveyed for self-reported demographics, medication adherence, and health status/outlook.

Effectiveness of an Evidence-Based Induction Therapy Protocol Revision in Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Study Objective: Induction immunosuppression significantly improves graft outcomes after kidney transplantation, but protocols vary among transplant centers due to the lack of data identifying an optimal induction agent. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of an evidence-based protocol change in induction therapy in adult kidney transplant recipients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Development of a Predictive Model for Drug-Related Problems in Kidney Transplant Recipients.

Study Objective: Drug-related problems (DRPs) are associated with increased rates of infection, rejection, and graft loss in kidney transplant recipients. This study aimed to develop a model to predict which patients are at highest risk of DRPs to streamline pharmacists' workflow in a chronic kidney transplant clinic.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Predicting and preventing readmissions in kidney transplant recipients.

A lack of research exploring post-transplant process optimization to reduce readmissions and increasing readmission rates at our center from 2009 to 2013 led to this study, aimed at assessing the effect of patient and process factors on 30-d readmission rates after kidney transplantation. This was a retrospective case-control study in adult kidney transplant recipients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized to assess patient and process determinants of 30-d readmissions.