Objective: Current international guidelines offer a conditional recommendation to consider a single dose of IV desmopressin (DDAVP) for antiplatelet-associated intracranial hemorrhage based on low-quality evidence. We provide the first comparative assessment analyzing DDAVP effectiveness and safety in antiplatelet-associated intracranial hemorrhage. Design: Retrospective chart review. Setting: Single tertiary care academic medical center. Patients: Adult patients taking at least one antiplatelet agent based on presenting history and documented evidence of intracranial hemorrhage on cerebral CT scan were included. Patients were excluded for the following reasons: repeat cerebral CT scan not performed within the first 24 hours, noncomparative repeat cerebral CT scan, chronic anticoagulation, administration of fibrinolytic medications, concurrent ischemic stroke, and neurosurgical intervention. In total, 124 patients were included, 55 received DDAVP and 69 did not. Interventions: DDAVP treatment at recognition of antiplatelet-associated intracranial hemorrhage versus nontreatment. Measurements and Main Results: Primary effectiveness outcome was intracranial hemorrhage expansion greater than or equal to 3 mL during the first 24 hospital hours. Primary safety outcomes were the largest absolute decrease from baseline serum sodium during the first 3 treatment days and new-onset thrombotic events during the first 7 days. DDAVP was associated with 88% decreased likelihood of intracranial hemorrhage expansion during the first 24 hours ([+] DDAVP, 10.9% vs [–] DDAVP, 36.2%; p = 0.002; odds ratio [95% CI], 0.22 [0.08–0.57]). Largest median absolute decrease from baseline serum sodium ([+] DDAVP, 0 mEq/L [0–5 mEq/L] vs [–] DDAVP, 0 mEq/L [0–2 mEq/L]; p = 0.089) and thrombotic events ([+] DDAVP, 7.3% vs [–] DDAVP, 1.4%; p = 0.170; odds ratio [95% CI], 5.33 [0.58–49.16]) were similar between groups. Conclusions: DDAVP was associated with a decreased likelihood of intracranial hemorrhage expansion during the first 24 hours. DDAVP administration did not significantly affect serum sodium and thrombotic events during the study period.

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Introduction A postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) pharmacy residency is designed to build upon the Doctor of Pharmacy education. The American Society of Health‐System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation standards, along with the competency areas, goals, and objectives (CAGOs), list four required competency areas for the design of pharmacy residency programs. The fourth required competency area goals and objectives (CAGO R4) focuses on the development of residents' skills related to teaching, education, and dissemination of knowledge. A characterization of current programs' approaches to satisfying this CAGO might stimulate improvements and spread innovation. Objectives To better characterize how PGY1 pharmacy residency programs incorporate teaching experiences in the training of residents. Methods The authors developed a survey to address the goals and objectives under CAGO R4. The survey was distributed to residency program directors (RPDs) of ASHP‐accredited PGY1 pharmacy residency programs and responses were voluntary. All data were analyzed descriptively to determine frequency (n) and percent (%). Results 21.9% of RPDs surveyed completed the survey, with a wide variation in program demographics. The most common presentations were to pharmacy staff/students (65.6%) and consisted of poster presentations (81.8%) or platform presentations (74.9%). The most common writing experiences included chart notes (94.6%) and drug monographs (88.7%). In regard to precepting, the majority (82.8%) of programs require their residents to co‐precept one to two pharmacy students per residency year. Finally, approximately half of the respondents required their residents to complete a teaching certificate program, with an additional 62.6% of these programs offering pedagogical readings. Conclusion Despite offering a number of experiences aimed at achieving the goals and objectives of CAGO R4, considerable variation exists in the design of the experiences offered and how programs assess the residents' learning experiences.

Background: Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) are often caused by gram-positive bacteria that colonize the skin. Given the overuse of antibiotics, SSTIs are increasingly caused by resistant bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Guidance on the utility of MRSA nasal screening for MRSA SSTI is limited. Objective: To determine whether MRSA nasal screening predicts the risk of MRSA SSTIs. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort study of adult patients with an SSTI diagnosis that had MRSA nasal screening and wound cultures obtained within 48 hours of starting antibiotics. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated using VassarStats. Pretest and posttest probabilities were estimated with Microsoft Excel. Results: A total of 884 patient encounters were reviewed between December 1, 2018, and October 31, 2021, and 300 patient encounters were included. The prevalence of MRSA SSTI was 18.3%. The MRSA nasal colonization had a sensitivity of 63.6%, specificity of 93.9%, positive predictive value of 70.0% (95% CI = 55.2%-81.7%), negative predictive value of 92.0% (95% CI = 87.7%-94.9%), positive likelihood ratio of 10.39 (95% CI = 6.12-17.65), negative likelihood ratio of 0.39 (95% CI = 0.27-0.55), positive posttest probability of 70.0%, and negative posttest probability of 8.0%. Conclusions: Given the high positive likelihood ratio, a positive MRSA nasal screen was associated with a large increase in the probability of MRSA SSTI at our institution, and a negative MRSA nasal screen was associated with a small but potentially significant decrease in the probability of MRSA SSTI.

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Despite a boxed warning, postmarketing reports of deferasirox-associated hepatic injury in patients with chronic transfusions are not well described. Hepatic impairment, including failure, has been reported to occur more frequently in patients older than 55 years and in those with significant comorbidities, including liver cirrhosis and multiorgan failure. In this case report, we describe significant hyperbilirubinemia and acute hepatocellular jaundice related to deferasirox in a 7-year-old female being treated for iron overload secondary to chronic transfusions. This report outlines a unique case without preexisting risk factors in which other causes of liver injury are excluded as defined by the Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method, which indicates a probable score of deferasirox causing the injury.

Background: Trauma patients are at increased risk of developing venous thromboembolism given alterations in the coagulation cascade. Chemoprophylaxis with standard dosing of enoxaparin 30 mg subcutaneously twice daily has evolved to incorporate the use of anti-factor Xa (AFXa) trough level monitoring given concerns for decreased enoxaparin bioavailability in this patient population. Current available evidence suggests low rates of goal AFXa trough level achievement with standard enoxaparin dosing. Our study aims to identify the incidence of critically ill trauma patients that did not achieve goal AFXa trough levels and attempts to identify predictors that may influence the lack of achievement of goal levels. Methods: This was a retrospective, cohort analysis performed at a single academic medical center. Adult patients 18 years or older admitted to the surgical intensive care unit secondary to trauma who were initiated on standard prophylactic enoxaparin and had at least 1 AFXa trough level representative of steady state were included. Patient demographics and clinical data were collected, and descriptive statistics were utilized. All statistical tests were 2-tailed and a P < .05 was considered significant. Variables with a P < .10 on univariable analysis were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: A majority of our patient population did not achieve goal AFXa trough levels while receiving standard doses of prophylactic enoxaparin (82.4% [108/131]). Sub-target AFXa levels were associated with higher creatinine clearance values. Positive predictors of obtaining target AFXa levels included automobile versus pedestrian mechanism of injury and requiring an enoxaparin dose escalation to at least 40 mg twice daily. Conclusions: Our study found low rates of achievement of goal AFXa trough levels in critically ill trauma patients receiving standard prophylactic enoxaparin dosing. Certain variables were identified as negative and positive predictors for achievement of goal AFXa trough levels, although the biologic plausibility of these predictors is questionable and requires further investigation.

Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose Alvimopan is a peripherally acting opioid receptor antagonist indicated to accelerate gastrointestinal (GI) recovery following surgery, but its benefits past GI recovery are unknown and evidence suggests that it may increase risk for myocardial infarction. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a pilot alvimopan stewardship program aimed at intervening to discontinue alvimopan use following GI recovery. Methods This was a retrospective, observational study examining the first 5 months of the alvimopan stewardship pilot program. During this initial period, a pharmacy resident assessed whether each patient met criteria for GI recovery, defined as solid food toleration and first bowel movement or flatus. If a patient met the criteria for GI recovery, the resident intervened and recommended that the primary team discontinue alvimopan. Primary outcomes were the percentage of patients with alvimopan continued past GI recovery and the percentage of patients for whom alvimopan ordered past GI recovery was discontinued following intervention by stewardship. Secondary outcomes included the percentage of accepted recommendations to discontinue alvimopan following GI recovery and the number of alvimopan doses ordered following GI recovery. Results In total, 73 patients were included in the study analysis, all of whom underwent abdominal and/or urologic surgery. Alvimopan was ordered to be administered in 35.6% (26/73) of patients after GI recovery. The stewardship program intervened and recommended discontinuation on 50% (13/26) of the alvimopan doses ordered past GI recovery. Recommendations were accepted by the primary team for 92.3% (12/13) of the patients. A total of 51 doses of alvimopan were ordered for administration past GI recovery, with an average of 2 doses per patient. Conclusion A pilot pharmacy-driven alvimopan stewardship program was able to identify and intervene on alvimopan orders continued past GI recovery. Interventions decreasing alvimopan use past GI recovery could be of benefit by minimizing potential risk and decreasing potential costs without a negative impact on patient outcomes.