Expanding expedited partner therapy and HIV prophylaxis in the emergency department.

Purpose: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to have a disproportionate impact on individuals belonging to sexual, gender, and racial minorities. Across the nation, many emergency medicine pharmacists (EMPs) possess the skills and knowledge to expand the provision of expedited partner therapy (EPT) for STIs and provide HIV prophylaxis within existing practice frameworks. This report serves as a call to action for expanded provision of EPT and HIV prophylaxis by EMPs and highlights current barriers and solutions to increase pharmacist involvement in these practice areas.

Acute Pain Management in Traumatically Injured Patients With Outpatient Buprenorphine Therapy.

Introduction: Acute pain management is challenging in trauma patients undergoing outpatient buprenorphine therapy at the time of injury due to the high binding affinity of this partial agonist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate acute pain management in admitted trauma patients with discontinued versus continued outpatient buprenorphine therapy.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included adult trauma patients admitted to a level-1 trauma center between January 2017 and August 2020 who were receiving buprenorphine prior to admission.

Impact of Pharmacist-Driven Antiretroviral Stewardship and Transitions of Care Interventions on Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Background: Persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) experience high rates of medication-related errors when admitted to the inpatient setting. Data are lacking on the impact of a combined antiretroviral (ARV) stewardship and transitions of care (TOC) program. We investigated the impact of a pharmacist-driven ARV stewardship and TOC program in persons with HIV.

Public Health Considerations among People who Inject Drugs with HIV/HCV Co-Infection: A Review.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) is a major public health concern. There are limited data in clinical trials on the use of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for treatment of HCV in co-infected PWID. It is critical for these patients to gain access to treatment in order to decrease progression of liver disease and decrease transmission of both HIV and HCV.