A Framework for a New Paradigm of Opioid Drug Tapering Using Adjunct Drugs.

The misuse of and dependency on prescription opioids represents a significant crisis at the national level, impacting not only the health of the public but also the societal and economic well-being. There is a critical need for strategies to reduce the dosage of prescribed opioids to limit opioid-associated adverse effects and lower the risk of addiction development in patients experiencing chronic pain. Opioid-sparing medications, when co-administered with opioids, enable a reduced opioid dose without loss of efficacy.

Pharmacy student attitudes towards a career in older adult care.

Introduction: The United States (US) health care workforce is significantly unprepared to meet the needs of the growing older adult population. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the reasons that current pharmacy students are interested or not interested in pursuing a career or postgraduate training in geriatrics and to evaluate factors that influence this choice.

Methods: This is a qualitative study utilizing focus groups of pharmacy students from the doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum of one public school of pharmacy in the US.

Development and Evaluation of a Pharmacist-Driven Vitamin D Protocol for a Cystic Fibrosis Clinic.

Objective: Vitamin D deficiency is commonly found in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and can have a negative effect on patients who are not at target goal according to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Vitamin D Deficiency Clinical Care Guidelines. The objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a pharmacist-driven vitamin D protocol (PDVDP) in improving, achieving, and maintaining 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels of patients in a pediatric CF clinic.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted for pediatric patients with CF from August 2018 to March 2020 to determine the percent of patients with improvement in 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels to target goal (≥ 30 ng/mL).

The current state of geriatric pharmacy education in the United States - A cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Concerns exist that the current health care workforce is underprepared to meet the needs of the aging American population. This study evaluated the current emphasis on geriatrics in doctor of pharmacy curricula.

Methods: A 61-item web-based survey was distributed to associate deans with oversight of pharmacy curricula at all United States (US) schools and colleges of pharmacy (S/COP).

Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden in Older People Over Acute Admission.

To evaluate the change of geriatric anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) over acute admission for fall, fracture, or altered mental status (AMS) with a secondary endpoint of associated 30-day all-cause readmission.
Retrospective, single-center chart review.
An academic, 636-bed level-I trauma and tertiary care hospital in Texas.

Baloxavir Marboxil: The First Cap-Dependent Endonuclease Inhibitor for the Treatment of Influenza.

Objective: To review the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical trials, and clinical implications of baloxavir marboxil.

Data Sources: A MEDLINE search was conducted using the terms baloxavir, baloxavir marboxil, cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor, and polymerase acidic endonuclease inhibitor. Additional data were obtained from the prescribing information and relevant guidelines.

Plazomicin: A Next-Generation Aminoglycoside.

Plazomicin is a novel aminoglycoside antibiotic that binds to the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit, thus inhibiting protein synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. Plazomicin displays a broad spectrum of activity against aerobic gram-negative bacteria including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and organisms with aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. In a large phase III clinical trial, plazomicin was shown to be noninferior to meropenem in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTIs) with respect to the coprimary efficacy end points of the microbiologically modified intent-to-treat composite cure rate at day 5 (plazomicin 88% [168/191 subjects] vs meropenem 91.