Fidaxomicin: a novel macrocyclic antibiotic for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection.

Purpose: The pharmacology, clinical efficacy, safety, dosage and administration, and place in therapy of fidaxomicin for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are reviewed.

Summary: Fidaxomicin, a macrocyclic antibiotic, has a narrow spectrum of activity against gram-positive anaerobes and is bactericidal against C. difficile.

Vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis?

The increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has resulted in a reevaluation of the role of vancomycin for surgical prophylaxis. Two systematic reviews of randomized control studies have concluded that cephalosporins are as effective as vancomycin for the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). However, most of these studies were conducted more than 10 years ago and cannot be generalized to the current rates of MRSA.

Prescribing trends for management of congestive heart failure from 2002 to 2004.

Background: The incidence and prevalence of the patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) continues to grow in the United States. The use of prescription drugs is a vital part of the management of CHF, and pharmacological regimens may vary among patients.

Objectives: To examine the CHF prescription trends in the United States and to determine present prescribing patterns.

Treatment and costs associated with anemic chronic kidney disease patients.

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the current therapeutic options afforded to anemic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and the costs of these interventions.

Methodology: Literature search of articles within Ovid MEDLINE between 1996 and 2007 that pertained to the treatment of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients.

Results: Early detection and treatment of anemia associated with CKD has proven to provide positive cognitive and physical effects.

Treatment of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in patients with chronic kidney disease: a review.

Hypertension and diabetes mellitus are the two leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the present pharmacologic and adverse events involved in the treatment of hypertension and diabetes mellitus in patients with CKD. Proper management of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, a common co-morbidity associated with CKD, would slow the progression of kidney disease and reduce healthcare expenditures.

Undertreatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease in the United States: analysis of national outpatient survey data.

Background: Understanding anemia treatment patterns in national outpatient settings may assist evidence-based policy making by identifying the variations in physician prescriptions for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and reasons for such variations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine anemia management patterns of CKD in outpatient settings in the United States.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the US National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 1996 to 2002.