Student correlates with interprofessional attitudes within undergraduate medical education.

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) is defined as students from two or more professions learning together to collaborate and advance health outcomes and is a required component of osteopathic medical education. Factors that influence osteopathic medical students' (OMS) interprofessional attitudes are currently unknown. This study sought to examine differences in interprofessional attitudes after completing an IPE didactic curriculum and identify specific student or curricular factors correlated with higher interprofessional attitudes.

Outpatient Prescribing Patterns for Uncomplicated Cystitis in Premenopausal Women With and Without an Allergy to Guideline-Recommended Antimicrobials: A Retrospective Analysis.

Objective: To determine if premenopausal women 18 to 50 years of age with uncomplicated cystitis who have an allergy to a guideline-recommended antimicrobial agent are less likely to receive guideline-preferred treatment compared to women without an allergy.

Methods: An electronic medical record report was used to identify females between the ages of 18-50 with a diagnostic code for acute uncomplicated cystitis at outpatient visits between December 1, 2017, through December 31, 2021. Patients with complicated urinary tract infections or pyelonephritis were excluded.

Incorporating physical manipulatives into an integrated pharmacotherapy course to reinforce antimicrobial spectrum of activity.

Background And Purpose: Teaching and learning the spectrum of activity (SOA) of antimicrobial agents can be a challenge in pharmacy education. This study describes the implementation and assessment of a novel tool to aid in the instruction of SOA. Physical manipulatives were used as an active-learning technique to model bacterial pathogens for antimicrobial SOA in an infectious diseases (ID) integrated medication therapy management course.

Y-site physical compatibility of hydrocortisone continuous infusions with admixtures used in critically ill patients.

Purpose: Critically ill patients with septic shock often receive multiple intravenous medications, necessitating either the placement of separate lines for medication administration or administration of medications concurrently through a Y-site connector only where compatibility has been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical compatibility of hydrocortisone infusions and select intravenous medications through a simulated Y site.

Methods: The medications tested for simulated Y-site physical compatibility with hydrocortisone included acetaminophen, albumin, cefepime, ciprofloxacin, cisatracurium, doripenem, epinephrine, esomeprazole, ibuprofen, levofloxacin, levothyroxine, meropenem, and norepinephrine.

Physical Compatibility of Medications Used in Critically Ill Patients with Balanced Fluid Solutions.

Using balanced fluids for resuscitation in patients with septic shock may lead to improved patient outcomes. However, compatibility data on co-administering balanced fluids via y-site connector with other intravenous medications is lacking. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical compatibility of frequently used intravenous medications for patients with septic shock with balanced fluids, Plasma-Lyte A, and Lactated Ringers, using a simulated y-site.

Sulfonamide Allergies.

As one of the earliest developed antimicrobial classes, sulfonamides remain important therapeutic options for the empiric and definitive treatment of various infectious diseases. In the general population, approximately 3-8% of patients are reported to experience a sulfonamide allergy. Sulfonamide allergies can result in various physical manifestations; however, rash is reported as the most frequently observed.

Hypothermia Associated With Thioridazine Use in an Intellectually Disabled Patient.

Purpose: To report a case of hypothermia in a patient with intellectual disability treated with thioridazine.

Summary: A 59-year-old female presented to the emergency department with altered mental status, generalized weakness, chills, and fatigue and was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection. Upon completion of a history and physical examination, the patient was found to be hypothermic with a temperature of 91 F.

Y-site Physical Compatibility of Beta-blocker Infusions with Intensive Care Unit Admixtures.

Parenteral beta-blocker therapy via continuous infusion has shown promising results for improved outcomes for patients with septic shock. As patients with septic shock may require multiple intravenous medications, compatibility is necessary to co-infuse these medications through a y-site connector. The purpose of this study was to examine the physical compatibility of select intravenous drugs used for patients with septic shock combined with various intravenous beta-blockers including esmolol, labetalol, and metoprolol through a simulated y-site infusion.

Physical compatibility of cisatracurium with selected drugs during simulated Y-site administration.

Purpose: The physical compatibility of cisatracurium with selected drugs during simulated Y-site administration was studied.

Methods: Study drugs were selected based on the lack of physical compatibility data with cisatracurium and their use in intensive care units. Test admixtures were prepared by mixing 2.

Cerebrovascular Accident in a High-Risk Patient During the Early Initiation Phase With Canagliflozin.

Objective: To report a case of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) in a high-risk patient following initiation of canagliflozin, the first-in-class sodium-glucose-co-transporter 2 inhibitor approved by the Food and Drug Administration for type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Case Summary: We describe a 62-year-old woman, with multiple clinical risk factors for stroke, who began canagliflozin 300 mg daily in addition to basal insulin therapy for diabetes management. The patient developed expressive aphasia 15 days following initiation of canagliflozin.

Effect of the human chorionic gonadotropin diet on patient outcomes.

Objective: To report a case of left lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and bilateral pulmonary embolisms in a patient who initiated the human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) diet 2 weeks prior to presentation.

Case Summary: A 64-year-old white female presented with leg swelling and shortness of breath. Lower extremity ultrasound revealed left leg DVT, and a computed tomography angiogram revealed bilateral pulmonary embolisms.

Physical compatibility of various drugs with neonatal total parenteral nutrient solution during simulated Y-site administration.

Purpose: The physical compatibility of various drugs with neonatal total parenteral nutrient (TPN) solution during simulated Y-site administration was evaluated.

Methods: Study drugs were selected based on the lack of compatibility data with them and neonatal TPN solution and the frequency of use in a local neonatal unit. These drugs included amiodarone, caffeine citrate, clindamycin, enalaprilat, epinephrine, fluconazole, fosphenytoin sodium, hydrocortisone, metoclopramide, midazolam, pentobarbital, phenobarbital, and rifampin.

Applying biomarkers to clinical practice: a guide for utilizing procalcitonin assays.

Prudent use of antimicrobial therapies is an important component in decreasing bacterial resistance. Procalcitonin (PCT) is a novel biomarker proposed as both a diagnostic and prognostic agent for use in various severe infections. Elevated PCT levels have a high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing infections.

Visual compatibility of common nebulizer medications with 7% sodium chloride solution.

Purpose: The visual compatibility of hypertonic saline solution with various other drugs used for nebulizer therapy in cystic fibrosis (CF) was assessed.

Methods: Nebulized hypertonic saline solution has proved to be an effective adjunctive therapy for management of CF-related respiratory symptoms. Admixing of hypertonic saline solution and standard medications for nebulizer delivery has been suggested as a way to reduce the time-treatment burden on patients with CF, but that practice has been discouraged due to concerns about potential incompatibilities that could lead to precipitate formation (in the nebulizer or airway) and impeded drug delivery.