Tocilizumab Versus Baricitinib for the Treatment of COVID-19 in Patients With Obesity.

Tocilizumab and baricitinib have emerged as potential treatments for patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) following the findings of the Recovery Group and the results of the COV-BARRIER study. Unfortunately, there is a lack of guidance regarding the use of these agents in high-risk patients, such as those with obesity. To compare the outcomes of tocilizumab and baricitinib as potential treatments for obese patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Duration of Gram-negative antibiotic therapy in patients with pneumonia prior to and after the implementation of MRSA nasal swabs, an antimicrobial stewardship tool.

Background: The implementation of MRSA PCR nasal swabs has been shown to decrease the use of anti-MRSA therapies through faster antibiotic de-escalation in patients with pneumonia. While this benefit has been shown exclusively in Gram-positive therapy, swab results may lead to additional antibiotic de-escalation discussions early on, potentially providing reduced durations or de-escalations of Gram-negative therapy as well.

Objectives: To determine if early de-escalation discussions prompted by MRSA swab results lead to shorter durations of Gram-negative antibiotic therapy.