Stability of 4 Intravenous Drug Formulations in Prefilled Syringes Stored Frozen for Up to 60 Days.

Prefilled drug syringe use may reduce the cost of routine antibiotic drug delivery. Storage of prefilled syringes frozen (-20°C) or refrigerated (4°C-5°C), can optimize the use of robotic syringe filling systems if acceptable stability data is gathered per USP 797 standards. Four intravenous (IV) drug formulations were prepared from bulk standard solutions and filled into 10 mL syringes using an Intellifill© IV Robot.

Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Continued on Renin-Angiotensin System Blockers During Hospitalization.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized patients and is associated with adverse outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate patient characteristics and interventions during hospitalization associated with the development of AKI in patients continued on renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers during hospitalization.

Methods: A retrospective study of 184 adult patients admitted between January 2012 and September 2014 and continued on RAS blockers was conducted.

Impact of recommended weight-based dosing of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors in acute leukemia and stem cell transplant patients.

Purpose: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a major risk factor for infection-related morbidity and mortality. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends the prophylactic use of granulocyte-colony stimulating factors (G-CSF), dosed at 5 mcg/kg and rounded to the nearest vial size. A previous medication use evaluation conducted within a multi-hospital healthcare system demonstrated that only 67% of patients were started on appropriate weight-based dosing.

Impact of a discharge medication therapy management program in an extended care hospital.

Objectives: To study the feasibility and effectiveness of a discharge medication therapy management program.

Design: Quasi-experimental pre-post study design.

Setting: Thirty-six-bed hospital within an extended care hospital.

Evaluation of vancomycin and gentamicin dialysis clearance using in vivo and in vitro systems.

Advances in hemodialysis (HD) techniques have increased the potential for drug removal. Quantifying drug clearance in clinical studies for all possible dialysis conditions is impractical, given the variability in dialysis conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the dialysis clearance (CL(D)) of vancomycin and gentamicin using in vitro and in vivo methods and evaluate the applicability of in vitro data.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus bacteremia: an evaluation of treatment with linezolid or daptomycin.

Background: Due to high rates of resistance and a limited number of efficacious antimicrobials for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE), appropriate antibiotic selection is vital to treatment success. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical and microbiologic outcomes associated with the use of linezolid or daptomycin in the treatment of VRE bacteremia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of adult patients with VRE bacteremia between January 2004 and July 2009 was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in the United States.

Early vs delayed enteral nutrition in critically ill medical patients.

This study was conducted to identify current practice in provision of enteral nutrition (EN) and to determine effects of early enteral nutrition (EEN) on length of stay in the medical intensive care unit (ICU). In this prospective, observational study, medical ICU patients were evaluated to determine their candidacy for EEN. If patients were candidates for EN and expected to remain nothing-by-mouth for 48 hours, they were classified as receiving EEN (within 24 hours of admission) or delayed EN.

Evaluation of glycemic control following discontinuation of an intensive insulin protocol.

Background: Intensive insulin protocols (IIPs) have been demonstrated to reduce morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Currently, there are no published studies evaluating glycemic control after discontinuation of an IIP.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare blood glucose (BG) control during an IIP and for 5 days following its discontinuation (follow-up period).