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Population-based evidence for other SGAs and metabolic outcomes was limited. However, clozapine and olanzapine were consistently more strongly associated with metabolic adverse events than were other SGAs currently available.

Objectives:To measure the impact of an antimicrobial stewardship initiative on the rate of urine culture testing and antimicrobial prescribing for urinary tract infections (UTIs) between control and intervention sites. Secondary objectives included evaluation of potential harms of the intervention and identifying characteristics of the population prescribed antimicrobials for UTI.Design:Cluster randomized controlled trial.Setting:Nursing homes in rural Alberta, Canada.Participants:The study included 42 nursing homes ranging from 8 to 112 beds.Methods/interventions:Intervention sites received on-site staff education, physician academic detailing, and integrated clinical decision-making tools. Control sites provided standard care. Data were collected for 6 months prior to and 12 months after the intervention.Results:Resident age (83.0 vs 83.8 years) and sex distribution (female, 62.5% vs 64.5%) were similar between the groups. Statistically significant decreases in the rate of urine culture testing (−2.1 tests per 1,000 resident days [RD]; 95% confidence interval [CI], −2.5 to −1.7;P< .001) and antimicrobial prescribing for UTIs (−0.7 prescriptions per 1,000 RD; 95% CI, −1.0 to −0.4;P< .001) were observed in the intervention group. There was no difference in hospital admissions (0.00 admissions per 1,000 RD; 95% CI, −0.4 to 0.3;P= .76), and the mortality rate decreased by 0.2 per 1,000 RD in the intervention group (95% CI, −0.5 to −0.1;P= .002). Chart reviews indicated that UTI symptoms were charted in 16% of cases and that urine culture testing occurred in 64.5% of cases.Conclusion:A multimodal antimicrobial stewardship intervention in rural nursing homes significantly decreased the rate of urine culture testing and antimicrobial prescriptions for UTI, with no increase in hospital admissions or mortality.

Objective: In Canada, treatment of children and adolescents with antipsychotics is almost always off label. A single atypical agent, aripiprazole, only recently received regulatory authorization for use in the group aged 15 to 17 years. This regulatory approval was restricted to treatment of schizophrenia. The objective of this review was to summarize pharmacoepidemiologic reports examining the frequency of use of these medications. Methods:A literature search was used to identify English-language studies examining the pharmacoepidemiology of antipsychotics in children and adolescents. The results of identified studies were summarized using narrative review methods. Results:In countries where longitudinal data are available, increased antipsychotic use has been consistently observed. Generally, most or all of this increase can be attributed to second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). Major international differences are evident in the literature. European studies describe lower overall frequencies of use than North American studies (most of which were conducted in the United States). SGAs in children and adolescents are used more often in boys than in girls, and are increasingly used for treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder (CD). Conclusions:Determining the most appropriate frequency of SGA use in children and adolescents will ultimately depend on decisive clarification of risks and benefits. The currently available literature highlights large international differences in the frequency of use. These differences may reflect fundamental dissimilarities in the therapeutic stance adopted toward ADHD and CD by physicians practicing in different countries. W W WObjectif : Au Canada, le traitement des enfants et des adolescents par antipsychotiques est presque toujours non indiqué sur l'étiquette. Un seul agent atypique, l'aripiprazole, a reçu récemment l'autorisation réglementaire d'utilisation auprès du groupe des 15 à 17 ans. Cette approbation réglementaire se limitait au traitement de la schizophrénie. L'objectif de cette revue était de résumer les études pharmaco-épidémiologiques qui examinent la fréquence d'utilisation de ces médicaments.Méthodes : Une recherche de la littérature a servi à identifier les études en anglais qui examinent la pharmaco-épidémiologie des antipsychotiques chez les enfants et les adolescents. Les résultats des études identifiées ont été résumés à l'aide de méthodes de revue narrative. Résultats :Dans les pays qui disposent de données longitudinales, une utilisation accrue des antipsychotiques a été observée régulièrement. Généralement, une grande partie ou la totalité de cet accroissement peut être attribuée aux antipsychotiques de deuxième génération (ADG). Des différences majeures entre les pays sont manifestes dans la littérature. Les études européennes décrivent des fréquences d'utilisation globalement plus faibles que les études nord-américaines (dont la plupart ont été menées aux États-Unis). Les ADG chez les enfants et les adolescents so...

Risk for hyperglycemic emergencies is low after initiation of antipsychotics, but patients with pre-existing diabetes may be at greater risk. The risk appeared lower with the use of quetiapine in older patients, but the clinical significance of the findings requires further study.

Background: Vancomycin is widely used to treat infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Data for dosing and monitoring of this drug in pediatric patients are lacking, and clinicians who are treating children often follow guidelines established for adults.

BACKGROUND:Published information evaluating frequency of and risk factors for vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) population is conflicting. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to describe the proportion of our PICU patients who developed AKI with intravenous (IV) vancomycin. The secondary objective was to describe the associated potential risk factors. METHODS: Pediatric patients (0-18 years) who received their first IV vancomycin dose in the PICU were evaluated in this retrospective chart review. AKI was defined based on Pediatric-Modified RIFLE (pRIFLE) criteria. Patient demographics, vancomycin trough concentrations, concomitant nephrotoxins, and estimated creatinine clearance changes were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 265 patients included, the primary outcome of AKI (defined by meeting any pRIFLE criteria) occurred in 62 (23.4%) patients (48 category R, 11 category I, 3 category F). Patients who received vancomycin treatment for ≥ 5 days were more likely to develop AKI (unadjusted odds ratio [uOR]: 2.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11-5.73), as were patients with a maximum vancomycin trough level ≥ 20 mg/L (OR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.54-5.78) and patients on 1 (uOR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.12-4.66) or more concurrent nephrotoxin (uOR: 3.11; 95% CI: 1.43-6.77). Among nephrotoxins, patients receiving furosemide concomitantly with vancomycin were more likely to develop AKI (uOR: 3.47; 95% CI: 1.92-6.27). After adjustment, only furosemide was a significant predictor of risk of AKI/AKI (adjusted OR: 3.52; 95% CI: 1.88-6.62). The study was limited by its retrospective and observational design, and confounding variables. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who were receiving vancomycin with concurrent furosemide were at highest risk of developing AKI.INDEX TERMS: acute kidney injury, critical illness, drug monitoring, pediatrics, vancomycin J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2016;21(6): [486][487][488][489][490][491][492][493]