Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen observed in nosocomial infections. Due to biofilm production and resistance to numerous antimicrobials, eradication is difficult. This study evaluated outcomes for monomicrobial S. maltophilia infections. Seventy-six patients were included, with 45 patients on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 31 patients on levofloxacin. Overall clinical cure, microbiological eradication, and 28-day mortality were observed in 79%, 82%, and 14% of patients, respectively. The use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or levofloxacin resulted in high cure rates; however, a trend toward resistance selection with levofloxacin was identified.
Patients moving between health care settings or providers are at increased risk of complications, including unplanned hospital readmissions and medication errors. Several actions must occur in concert with members of the health care team and across settings to ensure coordinated and continuous care for patients undergoing these transitions of care (TOC). Clinical pharmacists support patients during care transitions by providing interventions and services designed to improve medication outcomes. Clinical pharmacists and team members who support clinical pharmacist activities (eg, pharmacy students, technicians, and residents) are located throughout the care continuum, from acute care to care in the community, with each contributing to improved TOC outcomes. This article provides information on evidence of high‐impact clinical pharmacist TOC practices to serve as a practical guide for practitioners interested in starting or improving TOC activities. This article also addresses current and emerging best practices and offers suggestions for improving clinical pharmacist involvement in care transition activities.
Background: The incidence of cefepime-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) in hospitalized patients is highly variable. Although greater cefepime exposures incite neurotoxicity, data evaluating trough thresholds associated with CIN remains limited. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the incidence of CIN, assess the relationship between cefepime trough concentrations and CIN, investigate clinical factors associated with CIN, and describe electroencephalogram (EEG) abnormalities in CIN. Methods: This was a retrospective study of adult patients who had received ≥ 5 days of cefepime with ≥ 1 trough concentration > 25 mg/L. Potential CIN cases were identified utilizing neurological symptoms, neurologist assessments, EEG findings and improvement of neurotoxicity after cefepime discontinuation. Results: One-hundred and forty-two patients were included. The incidence of CIN was 13% (18/142). The mean cefepime trough concentration in CIN patients was significantly greater than the non-neurotoxicity group (74.2 mg/L ± 41.1 vs. 46.6 mg/L {plus minus} 23, p=0.015). Lower renal function (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/min), greater time to therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) (≥72 hours), and each 1 mg/mL rise in cefepime trough were independently associated with increased risk of CIN. Moderate generalized slowing of the background rhythm was the most common EEG pattern associated with CIN.Conclusion: Cefepime should be used cautiously in hospitalized patients due to the risk of neurotoxicity. Patients with greater renal function and those who had early cefepime TDM (≤ 72 hours) had lower risk of CIN.
Background Recent guidelines recommend a transition from trough-based to area-under the curve-based (AUC) monitoring for vancomycin for serious invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Due to the challenges of performing AUC monitoring in clinical practice, this study sought to compare the accuracy of an AUC calculated from two points using trapezoidal calculations and from a single steady-state trough combined with population assumptions. Methods This prospective cohort analysis included hospitalized patients with stable renal function from 10.2020 to 12.2020 with two vancomycin concentrations obtained at steady-state during a single dosing interval. For each patient, AUC was calculated via trapezoidal equations utilizing peak and trough concentrations (P/T) and using the trough concentration (T) combined with population volume of distribution. Appropriate concentrations were defined as a peak at least 2 hours after the end of the infusion and a trough within one hour of the next dose. The percent and actual differences were calculated between the P/T and T AUC assessments for each patient. A patient level review was independently conducted by two clinical pharmacists to evaluate if a change in dosing would have been made according to AUC estimation methodology. Results Thirty-one patients had appropriate steady-state P/T obtained. Baseline demographics are shown in Table 1 with the majority of patients being overweight with normal renal function. The mean calculated AUC for both groups was similar, P/T 544.8 and T 549.8. The mean and median percent differences were 1.85% and 0.65%, with a standard deviation of 7.3% and an apparent normal distribution (Figure 1, p = 0.94 by Shapiro’s test). The median absolute difference in AUC was 25.82 mg*h/L between methodologies. Both methods would have resulted in the same modification to the vancomycin regimen based on patient level chart review. Conclusion The single-trough method performed similarly to the more laborious P/T method. No patient would have received a dose adjustment based on the two different AUC estimation methods. The single-trough method may represent a resource and workflow conscious AUC estimation method for patients meeting population assumptions. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures
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