Background Colistin is used to treat gram-negative infections but it's highly associated with nephrotoxicity. Objectives To determine the incidence and risk factors as well as mortality in patients on colistin. Setting Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Muscat, Oman. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted and who received colistin for ≥ 48 h. The exclusion criteria included inhaled colistin therapy, cystic fibrosis, or pregnancy. The study period was from January 2010 to June 2016. Main outcome measures Nephrotoxicity using the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss and Endstage kidney disease (RIFLE) criteria. The secondary outcomes were incidence, risk factors and mortality in patients on colistin. Results A total of 123 patients were included. Colistin-associated nephrotoxicity (CAN) occurred in 57 (46%) patients after colistin therapy. As per the RIFLE criteria, 22 (18%) patients were classified as 'at risk', 17 (14%) as 'injury', and 18 (15%) as 'failure'. Multivariate analysis indicated that increasing age (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.03; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.06; p = 0.004) and higher APACHE II score (aOR 1.08; 95% CI 1.01-1.16; p = 0.040) were significant predictors for the development of nephrotoxicity. Factors associated with mortality included ICU admission (aOR 23.3; 95% CI 5.04-106; p < 0.001), vasopressin use (aOR 5.54; 95% CI 1.56-19.6; p = 0.008) and higher APACHE II score (aOR 1.15; 95% CI 1.03-1.30; p = 0.027). Conclusions The incidence of CAN was 46%. Increasing age and higher APACHE II score were the risk factors for CAN. Factors associated with mortality at 28 days included ICU admission and higher APACHE II score.

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A majority of patients with SCD had sub-optimal SGC. The pharmacokinetic profile of such patients is apparently too variable to fit the existing Hartford protocol. The Hartford nomogram should be modified to address this issue. Otherwise, clinicians should revert to multiple daily dosing.

Background Safe handling of oral anticancer agents is of great concern. There is a lack of clear, national guidelines on how patients can safely handle and dispose of unwanted medications. We aimed to evaluate the safe handling, storage, and disposal of oral anticancer drugs among cancer patients and caregivers at home. Method This cross-sectional survey of adult cancer patients (or their adult caregivers) used a closed-ended questionnaire from May 2019 to March 2020. Results A total of 257 patients (50 ± 15 years; range: 18–93 years) were enrolled; however, only 91% (233/257) reported self-administering oral anticancer medications. Caregivers were more likely to administer oral anticancer agents for patients ≥60 years than those <40 years old (63% vs. 8%; P = 0.001). Most patients (52%; 133/257) did not wash their hands after administering the drug; 74% (164/222) of the respondents reported that their medications were kept in a bedroom cabinet, while 18% (40/222) stored their medications in a refrigerator, and 5% (12/222) in a kitchen cabinet. A total of 55% (68/124) of patients returned their excess oral chemotherapy medications to the hospitals; however, 36% (45/124) disposed of their unused oral chemotherapy drugs in a household garbage container. Conclusion While two-thirds of patients stored their oral anticancer medications properly, more than half used inappropriate handling procedures. Disposal practices were inconsistent and did not adhere to the reported international guidelines.