BackgroundOsteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterised by low bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, with the consequent increase in bone fragility and fracture risk. The pharmacotherapy of osteoporosis is complex and its objectives are: improving bone architecture, restoring deficient bone mass, preventing fractures by increasing bone strength, avoiding falls and relieving pain. For effective results it is necessary that patients have good adherence to antiosteoporotic therapy.1 PurposeEvaluating knowledge about medications in females with primary osteoporosis.Material and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2017 in community pharmacies from a city. Females older than 65 years with primary osteoporosis who presented medical prescriptions with at least four drugs were included in the study after having expressed their written consent. Females with cognitive impairment of perception were not included in the study. Using a questionnaire the patient’s knowledge of drugs was evaluated and they were classified according to the anatomical therapeutic system.ResultsSeventy-five females were included in the study. Their ages ranged from 65 to 85 years; the average age being 71.11. Thirty-eight (50.66%) of them had knowledge of the medication administered. The most commonly prescribed drugs according to their ATC classification were: analgesics (acetaminophen) 38.6%; bisphosphonates (alendronate) 20%; vitamin D 10.6% and salmon calcitonin 10.8%. Females with low education achievement had less knowledge of these drugs than those with an increased level of education (p<0.04).ConclusionThe role of the pharmacist in the pharmacotherapeutic education of the patients is very important. The pharmacist can advise the patient about drugs from prescription medication, how to administer, dosages and solving potential drug therapy problems.Reference and/or Acknowledgements1. Subirelu MS, Călina D, Turcu-Stiolica A. Adherence to biophosphonate therapy in postmenopausal Romanian osteoporotic women with hypertension. ISPOR 21st Annual International Meeting May 21–25, 2016, Washington, Value in Health19(3):A235. Meeting Abstract: PMS61.No conflict of interest
BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that produces dyspeptic syndrome with nausea, gastric or duodenal ulcers, even gastric cancer. The risk is higher in patients who have hepatitis with C virus associated.1 There are several treatment regimens consisting of the combination of a double-dose gastric antisecretory with two or three antibiotics for a duration of 10 to 14 days.PurposeTo assess the efficacy and adverse events between eradication treatment for H. pylori with quadruple therapy A with amoxicillin 1 g/day, clarithromycin 1 g/day, metronidazole 500 mg/day and esomeprazole 40 mg/day for 10 days and quadruple therapy B with levofloxacin 500 mg/day, amoxicillin 1 g/day, bismuth oxide 480 mg/day and esomeprazole 40 mg/day for 10 days.Material and methodsThis prospective study included 85 consecutive patients with dyspeptic syndrome who presented with H. pylori infection diagnosed by endoscopy and rapid urease test, divided in two groups: group A – 40 patients treated with quadruple therapy A; and group B – 45 patients treated with quadruple therapy B for 10 days. The eradication of infection was defined as a negative rapid urease test at 8 weeks after completion of treatment.ResultsThe eradication rate of H. pylori in group A was 77.5% (31 patients) and adverse events were presented in 30% (12 patients). In three cases (7.5%) the treatment was stopped because of severe digestive adverse effects. In Group B the eradication rate was 77.77% (35 patients) and the incidence of adverse effects was only 13.33% (six patients). In this group all the patients finished the therapy. The main adverse effects were digestive, such as as nausea, vomiting and food intolerance. However, there was not a significant difference in the H. pylori eradication rate between the two therapies (p=0. 999).ConclusionThe eradication rate of H. pylori is similar in therapy based on clarithromycin and metronidazole compared with the therapy based on bismuth and quinolones. The advantages of therapy based on bismuth and quinolones are a better tolerance and a decreased incidence of adverse effects.References and/or Acknowledgements1. Docea AO, Gofiă E, Călina D, Zaharie SI, Vâlcea DI, Mitru P. Autoimmune disorders due to double antiviral therapy with Peginterferon and Ribavirin in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. Farmacia2016;64(4):605–611.No conflict of interest
Background Oral contraceptive pills are medicinal products containing various types of synthetic hormones with a role in preventing pregnancy. Purpose To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists from community pharmacies regarding oral contraceptives (OC) and emergency contraceptive pills (ECP). Materials and methods Interviews were carried out based on questionnaires sent to 42 pharmacists from community pharmacies in Craiova city, Romania during the period March–May 2013. Results All the pharmacists included in the study had sold at least once ECP or OC. 23 (54.76%) knew exactly the active substances contained in ECP or OC, the mode of the action and the pharmacotherapeutic management, side effects and interactions with other drugs; and 7 (16.66%) could not explain the mechanism of the action. 21 (50%) of these have indicated that repeated use for a long time involves health risks. 19 (45.23%) considered that ECP and OC should not be used by teenagers under 18 years old and 15 (35.71%) would not recommend this type of drugs to the women over 40 years old who were approaching the menopause. 16 (38%) believed that the ECP should be used only a few times. 40 (95.23%) agreed with the display of advertising materials with additional information about OC or ECP. Conclusions The results suggest the need for an improvement in the pharmacist’s knowledge about the positive pharmacological effects of OC and ECP. Displaying information related to OC and ECP is useful in pharmacies, thus increasing pharmacists’ and consumers’ knowledge of OC and ECP. No conflict of interest.
BackgroundDiarrhoea is a symptom frequently encountered in hospitalised patients with prolonged antibiotic treatment, which suggests nosocomial infection. The main cause of diarrhoeal illness associated with antibiotics is infection with Clostridium difficile (CD), a bacteria that is frequently encountered in asymptomatic carriers. From these reasons many healthcare settings have implemented screening for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI).PurposeTo assess the prevalence of CDI and CD carriage rate in patients undergoing prolonged antibiotic treatments.Material and methodsThe present study included 189 consecutive patients hospitalised in Clinical Emergency County Hospital of Craiova, Romania (SCJUC) with various comorbidities, following more than 7 days of antibiotic treatment, from which were collected stool specimens. Colonisation/infection with CD was determined by immunochromatographic screening method using kit NADAL–C. Difficile Toxins A and B Test (nal von minden GMBH, Germany) and confirmed by PCR using GeneXpert II (Cepheid, USA).ResultsAntibiotic associated diarrhoea was encountered in 66 patients (34.92%). Of those, 49 (74.24%) had infection with CD. Thus the CDI rate was 49/189 (25.93%). Of the 123 patients without diarrhoea syndrome, 57 (46.34%) were asymptomatic CD carriers. CDI rate was higher in the intensive care unit (ICU) (58.90%), followed by surgical departments (50.00%) with a lower prevalence recorded in medical wards (43.75%). We observed a higher prevalence of CDI (57.24%) in elderly patients over 60 years, compared with middle aged patients (51.35%, risk ratio=1.114). Multivariate analysis showed that only diarrhoeal syndrome was a significant positive predictor for CDI (OR=3.31, p=0.001). Admission to the ICU unit, age over 60 years and male sex were non-significant positive predictors for CDI.Conclusion CDI had a relatively high frequency in SCJUC in patients treated with antibiotics, being the leading cause of diarrhoea syndrome in these patients. The carriage rate of CD was also significantly increased. Screening for CDI contributes to detection of asymptomatic carriers and orientates therapeutic choices in hospitalised patients with enterocolitis.References and/or acknowledgementsDubberke ER, Olsen, MA. Burden of Clostridium difficile on the healthcare system. Clin Infect Dis2012;55(Suppl 2):S88–92.No conflict of interest
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