Intravenous push versus intravenous piggyback beta-lactams for the empiric management of gram-negative bacteremia.

What Is Known And Objective: Nationwide shortages of small-volume parenteral solutions (SVPS) compelled hospitals to develop strategies including the use of intravenous push (IVP) administration of antibiotics to reserve SVPS for absolute necessities. It is unknown if administration of beta-lactam antibiotics (BL) via IVP results in worse clinical outcomes compared to intravenous piggyback (IVPB) due to the potential inability to achieve pharmacodynamic targets.

Methods: Our health-system implemented a mandatory IVP action plan for BL from October 2017 to September 2018.

Safety of intravenous push administration of beta-lactams within a healthcare system.

Purpose: A critical shortage of small-volume parenteral solutions in late 2017 led hospitals to develop strategies to ensure availability for critical patients, including administration of antibiotics as intravenous push (IVP). Minimal literature has been published to date that assesses the safety of administration of beta-lactams via this route. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of IVP administration of select beta-lactam antibiotics.

Probable acyclovir-induced angioedema in a patient with HIV infection and suspected varicella-zoster virus encephalitis.

Purpose: A probable acyclovir-associated hypersensitivity reaction resulting in severe facial angioedema and respiratory distress is reported.

Summary: A 51-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and end-stage renal disease arrived at the emergency department (ED) with a diffuse rash on the chest and back; she was diagnosed with varicella-zoster virus infection, received one dose of i.v.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia secondary to fingerstick glucose monitoring.

Routine fingersticks for blood glucose monitoring are essential for the management of diabetic patients. However, the development of infections following fingersticks is a potential complication of blood glucose monitoring that has been reported in the literature. We describe a case of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia introduced during a routine fingerstick for blood glucose monitoring in a febrile neutropenic patient.