Urinary tract infection pocket card effect on preferred antimicrobial prescribing for cystitis among patients discharged from the emergency department.

Purpose: To evaluate the impact of a urinary tract infection (UTI) pocket card on preferred antibiotic prescribing for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) with a diagnosis of cystitis.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective, pre-post study was conducted to compare outcomes following the introduction of a UTI pocket card. The primary outcome was prescribing rates for institutional first-line preferred antibiotics (cephalexin and nitrofurantoin) versus other antimicrobials for cystitis.

Multi-centered evaluation of a novel fixed-dose four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate protocol for warfarin reversal.

Introduction: Previous studies have shown fixed-dose 4PCC to be as effective as standard-dose 4PCC for warfarin reversal. However, certain patient populations such as those with high total body weight (TBW) or elevated baseline INR may be at increased risk for treatment failure. The purpose of this study was to validate the efficacy of a novel fixed-dose 4PCC protocol for warfarin reversal.

Anti-HLA alloantibodies in surgical patients refractory to platelet transfusion.

Alloimmune platelet refractoriness (alloPR) among actively bleeding surgical patients with thrombocytopenia represents a life-threatening problem. Here we present three cases in which surgical bleeding was complicated by life-threatening thrombocytopenia and alloPR. We demonstrate that the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) antibodies associated with alloPR are broadly reactive and in high concentration, are not removed by hemodilution, and are not absorbed by transfusion of multiple doses of platelet concentrates.