Analysis of infections among patients with historical culture positive for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing or : Is ESBL-targeted therapy always needed?

Objective: Among patients with a history of ESBL infection, uncertainty remains regarding whether all of these patients require ESBL-targeted therapy when presenting with a subsequent infection. We sought to determine the risks associated with a subsequent ESBL infection to help inform empiric antibiotic decisions.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of adult patients with positive index culture for or (EC/KP) receiving medical care during 2017 was conducted.

Clinical impact of a multiplex rapid diagnostic pneumonia panel in critically ill patients.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical impact of the BioFire FilmArray Pneumonia Panel (PNA panel) in critically ill patients.

Design: Single-center, preintervention and postintervention retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary-care academic medical center.

A comparison of active versus passive methods of responding to rapid diagnostic blood culture results.

Objective: To compare 2 methods of communicating polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood-culture results: active approach utilizing on-call personnel versus passive approach utilizing notifications in the electronic health record (EHR).

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: A tertiary-care academic medical center.

Antiviral Pharmacology: A Standardized Patient Case for Preclinical Medical Students.

Introduction: Pharmacology is an important learning topic in preclinical medical education. Simulated patient encounters allow students to apply basic science knowledge in a clinical setting and have been useful in previous studies of pharmacology education. We developed a standardized patient (SP) encounter to reinforce antiviral pharmacology content for first-year medical students.

Impact of an Interprofessional Collaborative Quality Improvement Initiative to Decrease Inappropriate Thyroid Function Testing.

Published data show that thyroid function laboratory tests are often ordered inappropriately in the acute care setting, which leads to unnecessary costs and inappropriate therapy decisions. Pilot data at our institution indicated that approximately two-thirds of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) laboratories were unnecessary, correlating to a potential cost avoidance of more than $20,000 annually. The purpose of this study was to improve the appropriateness of thyroid function test ordering with a multipronged initiative.

Multicenter point prevalence evaluation of the utilization and safety of drug therapies for COVID-19 at the onset of the pandemic timeline in the United States.

Key Points: In a multicenter point-prevalence study, we found that the rate of supportive care was high; among those receiving COVID-19 drug therapies, adverse reactions occurred in 12% of patients.

Purpose: There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At the onset of the pandemic, off-label medication use was supported by limited or no clinical data.

Multicenter point-prevalence evaluation of the utilization and safety of drug therapies for COVID-19.

Background: There are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of COVID-19. At the onset of the pandemic, off-label medication use was supported by limited or no clinical data. We sought to characterize experimental COVID-19 therapies and identify safety signals during this period.

Impact of order entry alerts and modifications on doses of intravenous opioids dispensed during a national drug shortage.

Purpose: To address the intravenous (i.v.) opioid shortage, computer-based alerts and modifications were implemented over 2 phases beginning in August 2017 and February 2018, respectively.

Pharmacist involvement in a multidisciplinary initiative to reduce sepsis-related mortality.

Purpose: Pharmacy department contributions to a medical center's broad initiative to improve sepsis care outcomes are described.

Summary: Timely and appropriate antimicrobial therapy is a key factor in optimizing treatment outcomes in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock. The inpatient pharmacy at Wake Forest Baptist Health implemented standardized processes to reduce order turnaround time and facilitate prompt antibiotic administration as part of the hospital's multidisciplinary "Code Sepsis" initiative.

The Addition of Intravenous Metronidazole to Oral Vancomycin is Associated With Improved Mortality in Critically Ill Patients With Clostridium difficile Infection.

Background: The optimal therapy for critically ill patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is not known. We aimed to evaluate mortality among critically ill patients with CDI who received oral vancomycin (monotherapy) vs oral vancomycin with intravenous (IV) metronidazole (combination therapy).

Methods: A single-center, retrospective, observational, comparative study was performed.

Implementation of a Standardized Discharge Time-out Process to Reduce Prescribing Errors at Discharge.

Background: To reduce prescribing errors occurring on discharge from the hospital, a standardized discharge time-out process was implemented on a general medicine service at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. In the time-out process, the multidisciplinary care team reviewed the patient's medical records together to determine the optimal discharge medication regimen. This regimen was recorded on a time-out form and then was used to develop the patient's discharge documents.

Optimizing empiric antibiotic therapy in patients with severe β-lactam allergy.

Antibiotic selection is challenging in patients with severe β-lactam allergy due to declining reliability of alternate antibiotics. Organisms isolated from these patients may exhibit unique resistance phenotypes. The objective of this study was to determine which alternate antibiotics or combinations provide adequate empirical therapy for patients with β-lactam allergy who develop Gram-negative infections at our institution.

Show me the money: long-term financial impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program.

The financial impact of an antimicrobial stewardship program in operation for more than 11 years was determined by calculating the reduction in antimicrobial expenditures minus program labor costs. Depending on the method of inflation adjustment used, the program was associated with average cost savings of $920,070 to $2,064,441 per year.

Short-term outcomes of an employer-sponsored diabetes management program at an ambulatory care pharmacy clinic.

Purpose: The impact of a collaborative, employer-sponsored diabetes management program on glycemic control and other clinical endpoints over 6-12 months is reported.

Methods: In a retrospective, chart-based evaluation, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) and related health status indicators were assessed among first-year enrollees in the Healthy Outcome Partnership for Employees (HOPE) with Diabetes Program, an ongoing program sponsored by the Wake Forest Baptist Health (WFBH) system. Diabetes management services were provided by pharmacists in collaboration with providers inside and outside the WFBH system.

Using local microbiologic data to develop institution-specific guidelines for the treatment of hospital-acquired pneumonia.

Background: While current guidelines recommend consideration of local microbiologic data when selecting empiric treatment for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), few specifics of how to do this have been offered.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of HAP pathogens in 111 consecutive patients who acquired HAP during July to December 2004 and had a corresponding positive culture finding for a bacterial pathogen. These data were used to develop institution-specific guidelines.