Factors Associated with Acute Injurious Falls in Elderly Hospitalized Patients: A Multicenter Descriptive Study.

Background: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital-Acquired Conditions (CMS-HAC) links Medicare payments to health care quality. Experiencing a serious disability or death associated with a fall in a health care facility based on diagnosis codes has been identified as an opportunity for improvement. Multiple factors contribute to an inpatient fall, including medications that affect cognition in older adults.

Feasibility of a Novel Real-Time Provider Teaching Intervention in Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: It is not known whether an intervention using real-time provider teaching in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) improves provider knowledge and/or patient outcomes.

Objective: To pilot the combination of a novel, real-time provider teaching intervention delivered by subspecialists to Internal Medicine trainees with a traditional patient education and medication reconciliation (PEMR) intervention and to assess the impact of these interventions on provider knowledge regarding COPD and patient care.

Methods: This was a single-center, nonrandomized, quality-improvement study.

Risks and Preventive Strategies for Clostridioides difficile Transmission to Household or Community Contacts during Transition in Healthcare Settings.

The burden of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has greatly increased. We evaluated the risks for CDI transmission to community members after hospitalized patients are discharged. We conducted a systematic literature review in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL plus EBSCO, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and gray literature during January 2000‒February 2019 and identified 4,798 citations were identified.

Comparison of Adherence to the 2013 ACC/AHA Cholesterol Guideline in a Teaching Versus Nonteaching Outpatient Clinic.

Background: Little information is available regarding prescribers' adherence rate to the 2013 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) cholesterol guideline, especially that from a teaching versus a nonteaching setting.

Objectives: We aim to evaluate adherence rates to the 2013 ACC/AHA cholesterol guideline in a teaching versus a nonteaching practice site. In addition, the impact of a pharmacist-led seminar on adherence rate to the guideline was assessed.

Edoxaban: A Novel Factor Xa Inhibitor for the Management of Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism.

Warfarin has been a highly prevalent agent for over 70 years; however, its use has been limited by drug-drug interactions, adverse events, and the need for frequent monitoring. To minimize these complications, several non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants have been approved, including the latest agent, edoxaban. Edoxaban is a factor Xa inhibitor approved for the prevention of stroke/systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and for the treatment of venous thromboembolism.

Production of Highly Charged Pharmaceutical Aerosols Using a New Aerosol Induction Charger.

Purpose: Properly charged particles can be used for effective lung targeting of pharmaceutical aerosols. The objective of this study was to characterize the performance of a new induction charger that operates with a mesh nebulizer for the production of highly charged submicrometer aerosols to bypass the mouth-throat and deliver clinically relevant doses of medications to the lungs.

Methods: Variables of interest included combinations of model drug (albuterol sulfate) and charging excipient (NaCl) as well as strength of the charging field (1-5 kV/cm).