Pharmacy students' perceptions and attitudes toward face-to-face vs. virtual team-based learning (TBL) in the didactic curriculum: A mixed-methods study.

Introduction: Virtual TBL is an online adaptation of the team-based learning (TBL) instructional strategy, emphasizing collaborative learning and problem-solving. The emergency shift to virtual TBL during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges. This study aims to 1) compare overall pharmacy students' perceptions and attitudes toward face-to-face (FTF) TBL vs.

Impact of a Rapid Blood Culture Diagnostic Panel on Time to Optimal Antimicrobial Therapy at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Purpose: Utilization of rapid diagnostic testing alongside intensive antimicrobial stewardship interventions improves patient outcomes. We sought to determine the clinical impact of a rapid blood culture identification (BCID) panel in an established Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) with limited personnel resources.

Methods: A single center retrospective pre- and post-intervention cohort study was performed following the implementation of a BCID panel on patients admitted with at least 1 positive blood culture during the study period.

Daptomycin dosing in obese patients: analysis of the use of adjusted body weight actual body weight.

Background: Food and Drug Administration-approved daptomycin dosing uses actual body weight, despite limited dosing information for obese patients. Studies report alterations in daptomycin pharmacokinetics and creatine phosphokinase elevations associated with higher weight-based doses required for obese patients. Limited information regarding clinical outcomes with alternative daptomycin dosing strategies in obesity exists.

An evaluation of tedizolid for the treatment of MRSA infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)is a common pathogen in acute bacterial skin and soft tissue infections (ABSSSIs), nosocomial pneumonia, bacteremia, endocarditis, as well as diabetic foot, bone, and joint infections. Areas covered: This review summarizes the randomized controlled trials that evaluated the clinical efficacy of tedizolid in ABSSSIs, which is currently the only United States Food and Drug Administration-labeled indication for tedizolid. Expert opinion: Tedizolid has several potential advantages over linezolid including once-daily dosing, shorter duration of therapy, and increased tolerability.

Clostridium difficile treatment in neutropenic patients: Clinical outcomes of metronidazole, vancomycin, combinations, and switch therapy.

Background: Clostridium difficile infection treatment guidelines exist for immunocompetent patients; however, there is a paucity of data evaluating clinical outcomes and time to C. difficile-associated diarrhea resolution in neutropenic patients.

Objective: To assess clinical outcomes in neutropenic patients treated with metronidazole, oral vancomycin, the combination of metronidazole plus oral vancomycin, and switch of metronidazole to oral vancomycin.

Comparative Effectiveness of Vancomycin Versus Daptomycin for MRSA Bacteremia With Vancomycin MIC >1 mg/L: A Multicenter Evaluation.

Purpose: Clinical studies comparing vancomycin with alternative therapy for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia are limited. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes of early daptomycin versus vancomycin treatment for MRSA bacteremia with high vancomycin MICs in a geographically diverse multicenter evaluation.

Methods: This nationwide, retrospective, multicenter (N = 11), matched, cohort study compared outcomes of early daptomycin with vancomycin for MRSA bloodstream infection (BSI) with vancomycin MICs 1.

Interprofessional pharmacy observation activity for third-year dental students.

Interprofessional learning is a key component of today's health sciences education. Within a two-course series in dental pharmacology and therapeutics, a dental curriculum was revised to provide an interprofessional activity to expose dental students to a community pharmacy setting. The objectives of this activity were to augment students' learning about drug laws and prescription writing, as well as to foster interprofessional relationships and collaboration between pharmacists and dentists.

Fosfomycin for the treatment of resistant gram-negative bacterial infections. Insights from the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists.

The antimicrobial agent fosfomycin was discovered in 1969, at a time when bacteria had not yet developed extended-spectrum β-lactamases or carbapenemases. Decades later, it is not uncommon for gram-negative organisms to be multidrug-resistant and even pan-resistant to available antibiotic regimens, leaving clinicians with few therapeutic alternatives. Because fosfomycin has been shown to retain activity against these virulent pathogens, there is renewed interest in its use as a therapeutic agent.

Telavancin for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Telavancin is a bactericidal lipoglycopeptide antibiotic that is structurally related to vancomycin. It demonstrates in vitro activity against a variety of Gram-positive pathogens including, but not limited to, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Telavancin is currently FDA-approved for the treatment of complicated skin and skin-structure infections.

Integration of an introductory pharmacy practice experience with an advanced pharmacy practice experience in adult internal medicine.

Objective: To describe the development, implementation, and assessment of an internal medicine introductory pharmacy practice experience (IPPE) that was integrated with an existing advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE) in internal medicine.

Design: A structured IPPE was designed for first-, second-, and third-year pharmacy (P1, P2, and P3) students. Activities for the IPPE were based on the established APPE and the individual learner's educational level.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-induced hyponatremia.

An 86-year-old Caucasian male developed hyponatremia while on trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) 80/400 mg, one tablet by mouth twice daily. Upon discontinuation of therapy, his serum sodium and symptoms improved. He was inadvertently rechallenged several months later with TMP-SMX and had similar symptoms and laboratory abnormalities.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome associated with furosemide: a case report.

Purpose: To report a probable association of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) with furosemide and suspected cross-sensitivity with lincomycin and silver sulfadiazine cream.

Summary: A 28-year-old Hispanic male was admitted for SJS, with a prolonged hospital course and unclear etiology throughout the majority of the stay. Patient's medications prior to development of SJS symptoms were stable for 3 months and with the exception of furosemide, all were continued throughout the hospitalization while the SJS resolved.

Telavancin: a new lipoglycopeptide for gram-positive infections.

Telavancin is a lipoglycopeptide derivative of vancomycin. Similar to vancomycin, it demonstrates activity in vitro against a variety of Gram-positive pathogens, including but not limited to methicillin-resistant Staphylococccus aureus (MRSA) and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP). Modifications to vancomycin's structure expanded telavancin's spectrum of activity in vitro to include organisms such as glycopeptide-intermediate S.

Posaconazole's impact on prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections: an update.

Owing to the morbidity and mortality associated with invasive fungal infections, particularly in the immunocompromised host, development of new agents for both prevention and treatment is essential. Posaconazole is a recently approved extended-spectrum triazole available as an oral suspension. It exhibits fungistatic activity against a variety of fungal pathogens.