Acute mastocytosis: a potential dermatologic emergency.

A comatose patient arrived at the emergency room with apnea and in shock after a grand mal seizure. A maculopapular rash, not initially observed, led to a diagnosis of cutaneous mastocytosis. Degranulation of the mast cells with massive histamine release had resulted in cardiovascular collapse.

Evaluation of i.v. ceftriaxone usage in a community-based hospital.

Ceftriaxone is primarily used for the treatment of gram-negative nosocomial pneumonia and for gram-negative bacteremias. The following study examines whether ceftriaxone, a broad spectrum parenteral cephalosporin antibiotic, was being administered appropriately based on pre-established hospital criteria.

Evaluation of the use of i.v. ciprofloxacin.

A drug usage evaluation was conducted at our institution, a 344-bed teaching hospital, in order to determine whether intravenous ciprofloxacin was being used appropriately based on preestablished hospital criteria.

Computer assisted neonatal parenteral nutrition solution protocols.

Hospital pharmacies compound neonatal parenteral nutrition solutions for administration to premature infants until enteral feedings are tolerated. The majority of these solutions pose no problem for the hospital pharmacist to prepare. Occasionally, premature infants are prescribed low volume solutions that challenge the pharmacist to ensure the proper mixing and dilution of ingredients.

Pharmacy-nursing facsimile systems: set-up considerations and operational issues.

The use of facsimile (fax) machines for the electronic transmission of physician's orders from nursing areas to a hospital pharmacy has become increasingly popular. Although the uses and benefits of fax machines are straightforward in this practice setting, namely a significant decrease in order processing turn around time, the problems that may develop are often not described in the literature. This article describes some of the set-up concerns, operational problems, forms considerations, staff training, paper costs, equipment needs, transmission volume, and equipment maintenance involved with fax systems.

Documentation of drug interchange in the medical record.

The hospital medical record has become increasingly exposed to retrospective audits by third party insurers, quality assessment studies, and billing inquiries. As a result, the demand for complete documentation in the record has steadily increased during the past few years. Institutional medical practices are subject to a variety of regulations and standards.

Computer assisted neonatal parenteral nutrition order formatting.

Neonatal parenteral nutrition solutions are a vital part of the treatment regimen for premature infants. Protocols that dictate the formulation of these expensive intravenous solutions must assure absolute safety for the neonate. The procedure for the initiation, calculation, and compounding of parenteral nutrition solutions involves both physician and pharmacist.