Current protocols for prophylaxis against allograft reinfection after liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection include the administration of large doses of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), with considerable associated economic costs. Monotherapeutic prophylaxis with lamivudine has been complicated by the development of resistant strains of HBV. We studied the effectiveness of a posttransplantation prophylaxis protocol using combination lamivudine and low-dose HBIG in 7 consecutive patients with chronic HBV infection, 4 of whom were serum HBV DNA positive before pretransplantation lamivudine therapy. All patients were serum HBV DNA negative at transplantation and received lamivudine, 100 mg/d, posttransplantation. HBIG, 2170 IU, was administered intramuscularly intraoperatively and daily for 14 days. Maintenance HBIG therapy consisted of 2170 IU intramuscularly twice weekly, tapered to every 2 to 4 weeks by 12 months posttransplantation.Target serum HBIG (HBV surface antibody) titers were less than 500 IU/L for 6 months, then greater than 300 IU/L until 12 months posttransplantation. Induction serum HBIG titers were determined daily in 5 patients, and both serum HBIG and hepatitis B surface antigen were determined every 4 weeks in all patients. One patient died 61 days posttransplantation; the surviving patients (n ‫؍‬ 6) were followed up for a mean of 532 days (range, 395 to 648 days). No patient has developed allograft reinfection. In the induction period, a target HBIG titer of greater than 500 IU/L was not achieved until a mean of 6.8 days (range, 5 to 10 days). In the maintenance period, all patients achieved the target HBIG titer. This suggests combination lamivudine and low-dose HBIG is effective in preventing allograft reinfection by HBV.

From the standpoint of cost effectiveness, treatment of acute ischaemic stroke with intravenous t-PA is an economically attractive strategy.

This analysis supports the premise that an adult OPAT programme can substantially reduce healthcare costs in the Canadian healthcare setting.

Background: Adult outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) programs have been reported in the literature for over 20 years, however there are no published reports quantifying preference for treatment location of patients referred to an OPAT program. The purpose of this study was to elicit treatment location preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) from patients referred to an OPAT program.

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Background: Hospitalization can significantly disrupt sleeping patterns. In consideration of the previous reports of insomnia and apparent widespread use of benzodiazepines and other hypnotics in hospitalized patients, we conducted a study to assess quality of sleep and hypnotic drug use in our acute care adult patient population. The primary objectives of this study were to assess sleep disturbance and its determinants including the use of drugs with sedating properties.

This study reveals that some domains in HRQoL appear to improve 4 weeks after discharge for adults enrolled in an OPAT program and that there are different predictors for changes in physical and mental health.