Addressing Challenges in Antibiotic Access: Barriers, Implications and Strategies for Solution.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to global public health, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While excessive antibiotic use is often discussed, the issue of access to antibiotics demands attention. This viewpoint explores the multidimensional nature of the issue of access to antibiotics.

Antimicrobial drug pricing.

Despite the constant development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), few new antimicrobials are currently becoming available clinically. Alternative approaches, such as different mechanisms to fund their use, are being explored to encourage development of new antimicrobials.

A systematic review of antibiotic drug shortages and the strategies employed for managing these shortages.

Background: There is a need to examine the impact of increasingly prevalent antibiotic shortages on patient outcomes and on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Objectives: To: (1) assess patterns and causes of shortages; (2) investigate the effect of shortages on health systems and patient outcomes; and (3) identify strategies for forecasting and managing shortages.

Data Sources: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Clinical pharmacokinetics of antimicrobials in critical care: a narrative review.

Introduction: The management of critically ill septic patients presents considerable challenges due to multifaceted physiological alterations. Rapid changes such as fluid shifts, hyperdynamic states, and altered renal clearance often require special attention for better clinical outcomes. Vital organ dysfunction, with or without MODS, often necessitates supportive management like RRT, ventilatory support, and ECMO.

Exploring the therapeutic and prophylactic potential of bedaquiline in leprosy.

Leprosy remains a significant public health concern despite major strides in treatment and control efforts. The Global Leprosy Strategy 2021-2030 and the National Strategic Plan for Leprosy 2023-2027 majorly focus on facilitating action to reach the goal of zero leprosy. Exploration of new treatment regimens is emphasized as one of the verticals of the multipronged approach for reaching the aforementioned goals.

Comparaison of Efficacy and Safety of Fentanyl Transdermal Patch with Oral Ketorolac for Pain Management in Dry Socket: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of transdermal Fentanyl patch with oral Ketorolac for pain management in dry socket patients.

Study Design: Sixty patients who were diagnosed with dry socket (VAS > 40 mm) were recruited in this prospective randomized controlled trial. Patients were divided into two groups.

"Cell blocking" the parasitic imposter: In a rare case of isolated pulmonary cysticercosis.

Isolated pulmonary cysticercosis is a rare manifestation of human cysticercosis which mainly affects central nervous system, skeletal muscles, eyes and subcutaneous tissues. Pulmonary involvement is usually a part of disseminated disease and mainly presents as bilateral pulmonary nodules. We report a rare case of isolated pulmonary cysticercosis presenting as lung cyst with pleural effusion.

Bio-evaluation of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles loaded with radiolabelled rifampicin.

Aims: The poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles of tubercular drugs have been demonstrated to have a sustained release profile over 7 days. There is no information on the location or mode of release of these nanoparticles in living systems. Therefore, we have planned the study to explore the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of PLGA rifampicin nanoparticles in healthy human volunteers.

Perceptions about controlled human infection model (CHIM) studies among members of ethics committees of Indian medical institutions: A qualitative exploration.

Controlled Human Infection Model (CHIM) studies provide a unique platform for studying the pathophysiology of infectious diseases and accelerated testing of vaccines and drugs in controlled settings. However, ethical issues shroud them as the disease-causing pathogen is intentionally inoculated into healthy consenting volunteers, and effective treatment may or may not be available. We explored the perceptions of the members of institutional ethics committees (IECs) in India about CHIM studies.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Orthopaedic Implant Removal: What Does the Evidence Say?

Unlabelled: Orthopaedic implant removal is considered a sterile procedure, but the current literature suggests it is associated with around a 20% Surgical Site Infection (SSI) rate. The use of antibiotic prophylaxis is still ambiguous and contentious. Taking into consideration this issue we conducted a meta-analysis for the use of antibiotic prophylaxis in orthopaedic implant removal surgery.

A randomized trial of once daily versus twice daily dosing of oral iron in CKD.

We investigated the effect of two dosing regimens of oral iron on iron status and hematological parameters in patients with CKD. In this single center, open label, randomized, active controlled clinical trial, stable adult patients with CKD stage G3-4 with percentage transferrin saturation (%TSAT) ≤ 30% and serum ferritin ≤ 500 ng/ml were eligible. Participants were randomized to receive either 100 mg of ferrous ascorbate once daily (OD group) or 100 mg of ferrous ascorbate twice daily (BD group, total daily dose 200 mg).

A study to explore the appropriateness of dosing regimen of vancomycin in critically ill patients in a tertiary care unit of India.

Introduction: Vancomycin is used in proven or suspected MRSA and MRE infections. An AUC/MIC ratio of ≥400 is the current accepted critical PK/PD"efficacy" target of vancomycin activity. The present study was conducted to ascertain the appropriateness of practice of current dosage regimen of vancomycin (1 g BD) based on population pharmacokinetic approach.

The Genetics of Ethambutol-Induced Optic Neuropathy: A Narrative Review.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health problem with the major brunt of disease occurring in developing countries. The cornerstone of treatment of TB is anti-tubercular therapy (ATT), which includes rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol. Because of emerging drug resistance, treatment failures, defaulters and increasing incidence of disseminated and extrapulmonary TB, the guidelines have been modified in some countries.

A Novel ECG Denoising Scheme Using the Ensemble Kalman Filter.

Monitoring of electrocardiogram (ECG) provides vital information as well as any cardiovascular anomalies. Recent advances in the technology of wearable electronics have enabled compact devices to acquire personal physiological signals in the home setting; however, signals are usually contaminated with high level noise. Thus, an efficient ECG filtering scheme is a dire need.

Post-transplant cyclophosphamide pharmacokinetics and haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation outcomes: an exploratory study.

Pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide has been explored to optimize conditioning dosing. We hypothesized that post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) metabolite carboxy-ethyl phosphoramide mustard (CEPM) pharmacokinetics might impact haploidentical transplantation (haplo-HCT) outcomes. CEPM area under the curve (AUC) was determined by eleven sampling timepoints on day +3/+4 using LC-MS/MS.

A Low-Cost, 3D-Printed Biosensor for Rapid Detection of .

Detection of bacterial pathogens is significant in the fields of food safety, medicine, and public health, just to name a few. If bacterial pathogens are not properly identified and treated promptly, they can lead to morbidity and mortality, also possibly contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Current bacterial detection methodologies rely solely on laboratory-based techniques, which are limited by long turnaround detection times, expensive costs, and risks of inadequate accuracy; also, the work requires trained specialists.

Single ascending dose safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic study of econazole in healthy volunteers.

Introduction: Econazole has been found efficacious as antitubercular in in vitro and in vivo animal studies. However, limited information is available for its safety and pharmacokinetics in humans. In our present study we have conducted single ascending dose, safety, and pharmacokinetic evaluation in healthy human volunteers with the purpose of enabling translation for tuberculosis.

Assessment of rationality of available fixed dose combinations of antibiotics in India.

Objective: India is among the largest consumers of antibiotics. Easy availability and growing sales of Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) of antibiotics can worsen Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). There is lack of comprehensive data on available antibiotic FDC formulations, their dose strengths and adequacy of scientific evidence regarding their efficacy, safety and suitability for human use.