URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN PATIENTS YOUNGER THAN 60 DAYS OLD.

The safety and efficacy of transitioning from parenteral to oral antibiotics in patients aged less than 60 days with urinary tract infections were assessed. Patients who transitioned to oral therapy had a lower mean length of stay with no significant difference in medically attended urinary tract infection symptoms within 30 days of treatment.

Ethanol Lock for Prevention of CVC-Related Bloodstream Infection in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) can be used in patients with an indwelling central line to assist in the prevention of central venous catheter (CVC)-associated infections. However, its efficacy has not been consistently demonstrated in the pediatric population. The primary objective of this review and meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy and safety of ELT in prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in the pediatric population.

The use of vitamin K for coagulopathy in critically ill children.

Objectives: Coagulopathy is associated with increased mortality in children in the intensive care unit (ICU). Recommended management of vitamin K-deficient coagulopathy is vitamin K administration. The goal of this study was to evaluate vitamin K administration for coagulopathy in critically ill children and determine a relationship between vitamin K dose and change in prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR).

Methylnaltrexone for Opioid-Induced Dysmotility in Critically Ill Infants and Children: A Pilot Study.

Objective: Critically ill pediatric patients commonly experience opioid-induced dysmotility. Methylnaltrexone, a subcutaneously administered, peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, is a compelling adjunct to enteral laxatives in patients with opioid-induced dysmotility. Data for methylnaltrexone use in critically ill pediatric patients are limited.

Call to expand access to vaccines for children through pharmacist education, collaboration, and advocacy.

Vaccines are a daycare and school requirement for children. The Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act 3rd amendment grants pharmacists and pharmacy interns the capability to vaccinate children at ages 3-18 years according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices schedule of recommended vaccines. Before this, only some state boards of pharmacy allowed pharmacists to administer pediatric vaccines.

Use of dornase alfa in pediatric patients without cystic fibrosis.

Objectives: Literature regarding clinical benefits of dornase alfa (DNase) in pediatric patients without cystic fibrosis is lacking. In December 2020, the study institution implemented restrictions to limit DNase use in this patient population. The primary objective was adherence to DNase ordering restrictions.

Just DOAC: Use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants in pediatrics.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the current literature for direct-acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC) use in pediatric patients and summarize ongoing trials.

Summary: In treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pediatric patients, evidence supports use of both dabigatran and rivaroxaban. Dabigatran has been shown to be noninferior to standard of care (SOC) in terms of efficacy, with similar bleeding rates.

Codeine prescribing practices before and after the 2017 FDA warning at an academic health system.

Background: In April of 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a boxed warning contraindicating codeine use in all patients younger than 12 years of age.

Prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk of developing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) than the general population. Many medications utilized for the treatment of IBD affect the immune system, potentially further increasing the risk of PJP. Recommendations for prophylaxis against PJP in this patient population are based upon limited evidence, and risk factors for PJP development are not well-agreed upon.

Renal Impairment Associated With Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Use in the Pediatric Population.

Objective: Limited studies describe acute kidney injury (AKI) in children receiving trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole (SXT). The primary objective of this study was to describe AKI with SXT use in pediatric patients. Secondary objectives included describing the incidence of hyperkalemia and blood dyscrasias with SXT use.

Myelosuppression Rates with Administration of Nafcillin with and without Rifampin in Pediatric Patients.

Myelosuppression, a potential adverse reaction of nafcillin and rifampin, is rarely documented in pediatric populations. The objective of this study is to describe the incidence of myelosuppression in pediatric patients receiving nafcillin or a combination of nafcillin and rifampin therapy. This retrospective chart review identified patients who received nafcillin alone or in combination with rifampin.

Enteral antipseudomonal fluoroquinolones for ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis in children with pre-existing tracheostomy.

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most commonly isolated organism in tracheostomy-dependent children with ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT). Enteral treatment with an antipseudomonal fluoroquinolone such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin is sometimes employed, but supportive data are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of enteral antipseudomonal fluoroquinolones for VAT in children with pre-existing tracheostomy.

Student perception of academic advising in a school of pharmacy.

Objectives: Literature assessing the optimal means of providing academic advisement in pharmacy education is limited. The objective of this study was to describe students' perception of advising within a school of pharmacy.

Methods: A 27-question survey was developed utilizing Qualtrics and sent to all students at one school of pharmacy.

Key articles and guidelines for the pediatric clinical pharmacist from 2019 and 2020.

Purpose: To summarize recently published research reports and practice guidelines deemed to be significantly impactful for pediatric pharmacy practice.

Summary: Our author group was composed of 8 board-certified pediatric pharmacists. Eight major themes were identified: critical care, hematology/oncology, medication safety, general pediatrics, infectious diseases, neurology/psychiatry, gastrointestinal/nutrition, and neonatology.

Adherence to the 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics palivizumab prophylaxis recommendations.

Introduction: This study aims to describe adherence rates to the 2014 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Infectious Disease guidance document recommending which patients should receive palivizumab for prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Methods: A retrospective, single-center analysis of patients who received at least one dose of palivizumab between October 1, 2012, and March 1, 2017 was conducted. Data collected included demographics, medical history, palivizumab administration regimens, and incidence of RSV infection.

Twice weekly prophylaxis with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for pneumonia in pediatric oncology patients.

Current recommendations for prophylaxis of pneumonia in oncology patients include administration of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) three times weekly or the same total weekly dose given daily. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two consecutive days per week of TMP/SMX for prevention of pneumonia (PJP) in pediatric oncology patients. A retrospective cohort, single-center analysis was conducted in oncology patients 21 years and younger who received TMP/SMX for PJP prophylaxis between February 1, 2013 and July 31, 2017.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Posaconazole Delayed Release Tablets and Suspension in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Patients.

Objectives: Posaconazole is effective in preventing invasive fungal infections in neutropenic pediatric patients. The oral suspension has challenges in administration and absorption that are theorized to be minimized with delayed release tablets. However, this has not been validated in the pediatric population.

Hyperosmolar Therapy for Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Pediatrics: A Review of the Literature.

Traumatic brain injury remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The use of hyperosmolar therapy to offset increased intracranial pressure (ICP) is described in pediatric guidelines, yet some controversy remains regarding which option to select. A search was conducted using the PubMed, MEDLINE, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health, Academic Search Premier, PsycInfo, and Cochrane Library databases.

Use of Arginine Hydrochloride in the Treatment of Metabolic Alkalosis or Hypochloremia in Pediatric Patients.

Objectives: Dosing of arginine for treatment of hypochloremia or metabolic alkalosis is laborious and has inherent variability in dose selection. The primary objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of arginine in the treatment of metabolic alkalosis and hypochloremia. Secondary objectives were to determine an optimal dose, route, and frequency for arginine administration in the treatment of these conditions.

The Influence of an Academic Pharmacy Mentorship Program on Mentees' Commitment to Pursue an Academic Career.

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Walmart Scholars Program on mentees' attitudes towards and decision to pursue a career in academia. Upon completion of the AACP Walmart Scholars Program, wherein mentor-mentee pairs attend the AACP Annual Meeting to learn about academic pharmacy careers, mentees wrote essays evaluating the program. Their views on academic pharmacy careers were analyzed for themes in the evaluations.

Calcineurin inhibitor- and corticosteroid-free immunosuppression in pediatric heart transplant patients.

Pediatric heart transplant patients at our institution are immunosuppressed with a CNI and another immune-modulating agent without utilizing corticosteroids. Patients whose renal function worsened and who did not respond to CNI minimization had their CNI discontinued. The clinical history of 35 pediatric heart transplant patients with significant renal insufficiency whose CNI was discontinued was retrospectively analyzed.