Purpose: Rapid onset of severe hypertriglyceridemia was quickly recognized in critical COVID-19 patients. Associated causes have been due to secondary hemophagocytic lymphohystiocytosis (HLH) syndrome, medication-induced, or acute liver failure. Statins, omega-3 polyunsaturated acids, niacin, and fibrates are common oral lipid lowering therapy options in patients at risk for hypertriglyceridemia. The severity of hypertriglyceridemia in COVID-19 patients with triglyceride values reaching greater than 1,000 mg/dL put them at a heightened risk of pancreatitis and therefore an essential need to acutely lower their levels. We present a case series of 5 patients who achieved rapid triglyceride lowering through continuous insulin infusion therapy. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 48 critical COVID-19 patients who were admitted from March 22 to April 15, 2020 was conducted. Inclusion criteria consisted of mechanical ventilation and continuous insulin infusion to treat severe hypertriglyceridemia resulting with 5 eligible patients in this case report. Results and Conclusion: In addition to standard oral lipid lowering therapies, continuous insulin infusion successfully treated severe hypertriglyceridemia in critically ill COVID-19 patients. None of the patients experienced pancreatitis or hypoglycemia necessitating cessation of insulin. Further studies are needed to show the optimum dose and duration of insulin infusion as monotherapy and in combination with oral therapies.
Background
The use of remdesivir (RDV) in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has resulted in a significantly shorter time to recovery, especially in patients receiving low flow oxygen. Despite the shortened time to recovery, concerns have been raised regarding the $3,120 cost of a five-day course. This price was originally justified by the suggestion that RDV would save hospitals approximately $12,000 per patient by shortening hospital length of stay (LOS) by four days, however, this has not been consistently demonstrated in clinical practice. A preliminary review of RDV orders at our facility revealed hospital discharges were being delayed to complete a five-day course of treatment in patients otherwise medically ready to discharge.
Methods
This single-center, retrospective, comparative study was conducted at AdventHealth Orlando, a 1,368-bed community teaching hospital in central Florida. In January 2021, the campus stewardship committee devised a RDV stewardship strategy including targeted education and escalation of orders not meeting institutional criteria at time of order verification. This study compared pre-intervention patients who received RDV from December 1, 2020, to January 7, 2021, to post-intervention patients who received RDV from January 8, 2021, to February 28, 2022. The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of a pharmacist-driven RDV stewardship initiative on the duration of therapy in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
Results
A total of 2104 remdesivir orders were included in the study (209 pre-intervention and 1895 post-intervention). Overall, patients had a median age of 59 years and 49% were male. Majority of patients in both groups required low flow supplemental oxygen at the time of RDV initiation. Significantly more orders in the intervention group aligned with institutional criteria at the time of order entry (47% vs 84%, p< .001). Patients completing the full 5-day course of remdesivir therapy decreased from 79 to 53% (p< .001). A decreased duration of therapy and length of stay were observed in the intervention group.
Conclusion
Pharmacist-driven RDV stewardship increased adherence to the institutional algorithm and reduced duration of therapy.
Disclosures
Amy L. Carr, PharmD, BCIDP, Shionogi: Advisory Board.
ResultsThe most commonly identified low-dose medication was rectal Diazepam. Our baseline rate of low-dose prescriptions using data was 3.5%. Interventions targeting efforts to eliminate low-dose prescribing resulted in a centerline shift from a baseline of 3.5% to 2.8% in January 2016. There was a second centerline shift to 1.59% in September 2017. Conclusions Using quality improvement methodologies, the team substantially decreased low dose rescue medication orders by an average of 54%. We are currently developing a tool within our EMR to auto-calculate the correct rescue medication dose for each patient.
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