A quantitative PCR to detect non-toxigenic .

species lacking toxin genes (non-toxigenic or NTCD) may confer protection against CDI. However, current diagnostic tests detect either toxin proteins or toxin genes and cannot detect NTCD. This study developed a molecular testing method that uniquely identified NTCD and assessed its prevalence in a clinical cohort.

Patient Satisfaction Scale Following a Laxative for Antibiotic Washout Prior to Oral Microbiome Therapy.

Introduction: Administration of fecal microbiota spores, live-brpk [Vowst Oral Spores (VOS)], an oral microbiome therapeutic approved for prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection in adults, requires antibiotic washout using a laxative prior to administration. Patient acceptability of the prerequisite laxative is important. This study assessed psychometric properties of the Antibiotic Washout Patient Satisfaction Scale (AWPSS) which was minimally modified from a previously validated patient satisfaction scale for bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy.

Optimizing Clinical Outcomes Through Rational Dosing Strategies: Roles of Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling Tools.

Significant progress in previous decades has led to several methodologies developed to facilitate the design of optimal antimicrobial dosing. In this review, we highlight common pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modeling techniques and their roles in guiding rational dosing regimen design. In the early drug development phases, dose fractionation studies identify the PKPD index most closely associated with bacterial killing.

Infectious Diseases Management in Wound Care Settings: Common Causative Organisms and Frequently Prescribed Antibiotics.

General Purpose: To provide information about the management of infected wounds in wound care settings.

Target Audience: This continuing education activity is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and nurses with an interest in skin and wound care.

Learning Objectives/outcomes: After participating in this educational activity, the participant will:1.

Significant Publications on Infectious Diseases Pharmacotherapy in 2021.

To summarize the most noteworthy infectious diseases (ID) pharmacotherapy articles published in peer-reviewed literature in 2021. Members of the Houston Infectious Diseases Network (HIDN) nominated articles that were deemed to have significant contributions to ID pharmacotherapy in 2021. These nominations included articles pertaining to both general ID, including coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pharmacotherapy.

Increased Stroke Risk Following Herpes Zoster Infection and Protection With Zoster Vaccine.

Background: Studies evaluating stroke following varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection are limited, and the utility of zoster vaccination against this phenomenon is unclear. This study aimed to determine the risk of stroke 30 days following zoster infection and to evaluate the impact of zoster vaccinations on the risk of stroke in VZV-infected patients.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study was conducted from January 2010 to January 2020 utilizing nationwide patient data retrieved from the Veterans Affairs' Corporate Data Warehouse.

Smoking status related to Covid-19 mortality and disease severity in a veteran population.

Introduction: Cigarette smoking is associated with development of significant comorbidities. Patients with underlying comorbidities have been found to have worse outcomes associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19). This study evaluated 30-day mortality in Covid-19 positive patients based on smoking status.

Open-source maximum a posteriori-bayesian dosing AdDS to current therapeutic drug monitoring: Adapting to the era of individualized therapy.

Recent updates in the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) guidelines for vancomycin have rekindled interest in maximum a posteriori-Bayesian (MAP-Bayesian) estimation of patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters. To create a versatile infrastructure for MAP-Bayesian dosing of vancomycin or other drugs, a freely available, R-based software package, Advanced Dosing Solutions (AdDS), was created to facilitate clinical implementation of these improved TDM methods. The objective of this study was to utilize AdDS for pre- and post-processing of data in order to streamline the therapeutic management of vancomycin in healthy and obese veterans.

Combatting the Rising Tide of Antimicrobial Resistance: Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Dosing Strategies for Maximal Precision.

Objective: Antimicrobial pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) principles and PK/PD models have been essential in characterizing the mechanism of antibiotic bacterial killing and determining the most optimal dosing regimen that maximizes clinical outcomes. This review summarized the fundamentals of antimicrobial PK/PD and the various types of PK/PD experiments that shaped the utilization and dosing strategies of antibiotics today.

Methods: Multiple databases - including PubMed, Scopus, and EMBASE - were searched for published articles that involved PK/PD modelling and precision dosing.