Use of an electronic health record training environment with a longitudinal patient case as a teaching tool in an APPE-readiness course.

Background: The integration of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in healthcare has changed how healthcare is performed, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of these systems among pharmacists. The ability to navigate EHRs is crucial for pharmacy students' success in introductory and advanced pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs and APPEs). This manuscript describes the development and use of an EHR training environment in an APPE-readiness course.

Effectiveness of ceftazidime-avibactam versus ceftolozane-tazobactam for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in the USA (CACTUS): a multicentre, retrospective, observational study.

Background: Ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam are preferred treatment options for multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections; however, real-world comparative effectiveness studies are scarce. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences between the agents might affect clinical response rates. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of ceftolozane-tazobactam and ceftazidime-avibactam for treatment of invasive multidrug-resistant P aeruginosa infections.

Clinical outcomes in patients infected with ertapenem-only-resistant Enterobacterales versus multi-carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.

Background: Use of anti-carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (anti-CRE) agents such as ceftazidime/avibactam has been associated with improved clinical outcome in cohorts that primarily include patients infected with CRE that are resistant to meropenem (MCRE).

Objectives: To clarify whether patients with CRE resistant to ertapenem but susceptible to meropenem (ertapenem-only-resistant Enterobacterales; EORE) benefit from therapy with anti-CRE agents.

Methods: Patients treated for CRE infection in hospitals in the USA between 2016 and 2019 and enrolled in the CRACKLE-2 study were included.

Evidence to support health system prioritization of health behaviors in the COVID-19 era.

Background: Since the COVID-19 pandemic health systems have shifted necessarily from chronic to infectious disease treatment, but chronic disease remains critical. One large health system uniquely tracks member health behaviors. This analysis compares data from select months of an ongoing monthly cross-sectional survey before and during the pandemic.

Improving antibiotic utilization through an outpatient stewardship initiative.

Antibiotic prescribing errors at hospital discharge are common. We designed a pharmacist-driven antimicrobial stewardship program to evaluate prescriptions prior to being transmitted to community pharmacies. Drug-related problems were identified in prescriptions for 48 of 149 patients, resulting in 55 interventions.

Antibiotic Myths for the Infectious Diseases Clinician.

Antimicrobials are commonly prescribed and often misunderstood. With more than 50% of hospitalized patients receiving an antimicrobial agent at any point in time, judicious and optimal use of these drugs is paramount to advancing patient care. This narrative will focus on myths relevant to nuanced consultation from infectious diseases specialists, particularly surrounding specific considerations for a variety of antibiotics.

Appropriateness of prescribed oral antibiotic duration at the time of hospital discharge.

Antibiotic stewardship initiatives usually occur in the inpatient setting and should be optimized during transitions of care. In this study, we assessed the appropriateness of oral antibiotic treatment duration at the time of discharge from our institution based on national guidelines and clinical parameters for common infections.

Deconstructing the Dogma: Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis of Adjunctive Gentamicin and Rifampin in Staphylococcal Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis.

Background: Based primarily on in vitro and animal models, with little data directly addressing patient outcomes, current guidelines recommend treating staphylococcal prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) with antibiotic combinations including gentamicin and rifampin. Here, we synthesize the clinical data on adjunctive rifampin and gentamicin in staphylococcal PVE.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of PubMed- and Cochrane-indexed studies reporting outcomes of staphylococcal PVE treated with adjunctive rifampin, gentamicin, both agents, or neither (ie, glycopeptide or β-lactam monotherapy).

Transmission of Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in US Hospitals.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKp) is the most prevalent carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales in the United States. We evaluated CRKp clustering in patients in US hospitals.

Methods: From April 2016 to August 2017, 350 patients with clonal group 258 CRKp were enrolled in the Consortium on Resistance Against Carbapenems in Klebsiella and other Enterobacteriaceae, a prospective, multicenter, cohort study.

Infectious Diseases Society of America Guidelines on the Treatment and Management of Patients With COVID-19 (September 2022).

There are many pharmacologic therapies that are being used or considered for treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with rapidly changing efficacy and safety evidence from trials. The objective was to develop evidence-based, rapid, living guidelines intended to support patients, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals in their decisions about treatment and management of patients with COVID-19. In March 2020, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel of infectious disease clinicians, pharmacists, and methodologists with varied areas of expertise to regularly review the evidence and make recommendations about the treatment and management of persons with COVID-19.

Poor outcomes in both infection and colonization with carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.

Objectives: To describe the epidemiology of patients with nonintestinal carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) colonization and to compare clinical outcomes of these patients to those with CRE infection.

Design: A secondary analysis of Consortium on Resistance Against Carbapenems in and other Enterobacteriaceae 2 (CRACKLE-2), a prospective observational cohort.

Setting: A total of 49 US short-term acute-care hospitals.

Therapeutic Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) During Pandemics: Double-edged Swords.

Given the urgent need for treatments during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the US Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for multiple therapies. In several instances, however, these EUAs were issued before sufficient evidence of a given therapy's efficacy and safety were available, potentially promoting ineffective or even harmful therapies and undermining the generation of definitive evidence. We describe the strengths and weaknesses of the different therapeutic EUAs issued during this pandemic.

Lessons Learned from Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Therapies: Critical Perspectives From the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) COVID-19 Treatment Guideline Panel.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, there has been substantial progress with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapies. Pivotal COVID-19 trials like SOLIDARITY, RECOVERY, and ACCT-1 were rapidly conducted and data disseminated to support effective therapies. However, critical shortcomings remain on trial conduct, dissemination and interpretation of study results, and regulatory guidance in pandemic settings.

Use of diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship practices to improve testing among SHEA Research Network hospitals.

We surveyed acute-care hospitals on strategies to reduce inappropriate testing and treatment of colonized patients. Decision support during test ordering was common, but "hard stops" to prevent placement of inappropriate orders and active intervention of antimicrobial stewardship programs on positive test reports were infrequent.

A Multicenter Evaluation of Ceftolozane/Tazobactam Treatment Outcomes in Immunocompromised Patients With Multidrug-Resistant Infections.

Background: Real-world data assessing outcomes of immunocompromised patients treated with ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) are limited. This study evaluated treatment and clinical outcomes of immunocompromised patients receiving C/T for multidrug-resistant (MDR) .

Methods: This was a 14-center retrospective cohort study of adult immunocompromised inpatients treated for ≥24 hours with C/T for MDR infections.

Outpatient Subcutaneous Antimicrobial Therapy (OSCAT) as a Measure to Improve the Quality and Efficiency of Healthcare Delivery for Patients With Serious Bacterial Infections.

Since the 1970s, outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) has been a viable option for patients who require intravenous antibiotics when hospitalization is not warranted. While the benefits of OPAT as a measure to improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery (i.e.

A Clinical Review and Critical Evaluation of Imipenem-Relebactam: Evidence to Date.

Imipenem-relebactam (I-R) is a novel beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combination given with cilastatin. It is indicated for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and hospital-acquired or ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia. A literature search was completed to evaluate the evidence to date of I-R.

A strategy to promote population-wide life satisfaction while advancing equity.

Objectives: To develop a strategy to promote life satisfaction with equity for a diverse insured population.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey and claims analysis.

Methods: We conduct an ongoing survey of a stratified random sample of adult plan members.

Learning Experiences Within Infectious Diseases Pharmacy Residency Programs in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Background: Pharmacists with residency training in infectious diseases (ID) optimize antimicrobial therapy outcomes in patients and support antimicrobial stewardship (AS) programs. Although most ID residencies are accredited and assessed by certain standards, the degree to which these programs are similar is not known.

Methods: A 19-item, cross-sectional, multicentered, electronic survey was distributed via e-mail to pharmacy residency program directors (RPDs) of all 101 second-year postgraduate (PGY-2) ID residency programs in the United States.

The Predicted Impact of Adopting Health-Promoting Behaviors on Disease Burden in a Commercially Insured Population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to better understand, in a commercially insured population, the potential impact of adopting six health-promoting behaviors relative to treating diseases and conditions.

Methods: We combined survey and insurance claims data to compare the potential benefit from adopting behaviors relative with the burden from 27 groups of diseases and conditions.

Results: If every member adopted all six behaviors, an 11.