Elevations in Norclobazam Concentrations and Altered Mental Status in CYP2C19 Poor Metabolizer Phenotype: A Case Report.

Clobazam is a 1,5-benzodiazepine frequently used as an adjunctive agent for refractory seizures and status epilepticus. Clobazam undergoes metabolism to an active metabolite norclobazam which is subsequently hydroxylated by CYP2C19, a cytochrome with several pharmacogenetic variants. Patients with poor metabolizer phenotypes may have elevated norclobazam levels and subsequent adverse effects.

Evaluation of Vasopressor Exposure and Mortality in Patients With Septic Shock.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to: 1) determine the association between vasopressor dosing intensity during the first 6 hours and first 24 hours after the onset of septic shock and 30-day in-hospital mortality; 2) determine whether the effect of vasopressor dosing intensity varies by fluid resuscitation volume; and 3) determine whether the effect of vasopressor dosing intensity varies by dosing titration pattern.

Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study between September 2017 and February 2018. Vasopressor dosing intensity was defined as the total vasopressor dose infused across all vasopressors in norepinephrine equivalents.

A Novel Correction Equation Avoids High-Magnitude Errors in Interpreting Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Phenytoin Among Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Phenytoin has a narrow therapeutic index and the potential of under-treatment or toxicity. Available equations are used to correct for the impact of hypoalbuminemia on unbound (free) phenytoin levels. The authors aimed to determine the accuracy of equations used to estimate free phenytoin in hospitalized patients and assess the impact of using additional clinical data.

A triad of linezolid toxicity: hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, and acute pancreatitis.

We present a case of suspected linezolid toxicity in a 34-year-old man with sickle cell disease and line-related vancomycin-resistant enterococcal bacteremia and tricuspid valve endocarditis. The patient developed sudden-onset hypoglycemia, lactic acidosis, and acute pancreatitis 11 days after initiation of linezolid. All adverse effects quickly resolved with drug cessation.

Fluconazole pharmacokinetics in a morbidly obese, critically ill patient receiving continuous venovenous hemofiltration.

Current fluconazole dosing strategies can be described using either standardized doses (800 or 400 mg) or as weight-based dosing recommendations (12 mg/kg loading dose followed by 6 mg/kg maintenance dose). The ideal method of fluconazole dosing is still unclear for certain patient populations, such as those receiving renal replacement therapy or the morbidly obese. We describe a 48-year-old man with a body mass index of 84 kg/m(2) who was receiving continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH) and was treated with fluconazole by using a weight-based dose determined by lean body weight, infused at a rate of 200 mg/hour.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea: a refresher on causes and possible prevention with probiotics--continuing education article.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) describes any unexplained diarrhea associated with the use of an antibiotic. AAD also includes infection caused by Clostridium difficile, however this organism only accounts for a small percentage of diarrhea caused by antibiotics. AAD can be caused by multiple other organisms including C perfringens, S aureus, and Candida.