Epidemiology of infection at one hospital 10 years after an outbreak of the epidemic strain BI/027: changing strain prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibilities, and patient antibiotic exposures.

In contrast to the epidemiology 10 years earlier at our hospital when the epidemic restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) group strain BI accounted for 72% of isolates recovered from first-episode infection (CDI) cases, BI represented 19% of first-episode CDI isolates in 2013-2015. Two additional REA group strains accounted for 31% of isolates (Y, 16%; DH, 12%). High-level resistance to fluoroquinolones and azithromycin was more common among BI isolates than among DH, Y, and non-BI/DH/Y isolates.

Preventing the Post-Antibiotic Era by Training Future Pharmacists as Antimicrobial Stewards.

Antimicrobials enable modern medicine, but their efficacy is a limited resource. In the past 20 years, antimicrobial development has slowed dramatically while antimicrobial resistance continues to rise. In response to this, there has been an increased focus on strategically managing antimicrobial use with an approach called "antimicrobial stewardship.

Patient preferences for objective quality metrics during community pharmacy selection: A discrete choice experiment.

Background: Patients select healthcare providers and facilities based on a complex array of factors. Pharmacy-level quality metrics have been discussed as a way to help direct patients towards high-quality pharmacies. Limited research has been conducted on the potential impact of quality metrics on the pharmacy selection process.

Developing a Measure of Students' Potential Involvement in Scholarly Activities.

Background: Pharmacy schools must encourage a culture of inquiry so future pharmacists approach practice in a scholarly fashion.

Objectives: To develop an instrument measuring intentions to engage in various scholarly activities.

Methods: Items representing scholarly activities relevant to pharmacists were developed.

Traditional matriculation vs an early assurance program: Effect on elected student leadership positions and academic performance.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare leadership and academic performance among students admitted by traditional pathways vs. a dual acceptance program (DAP).

Methods: A list of students admitted to the Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy (MWUCCP) DAP was cross-checked with students elected to serve in leadership positions and students on the MWUCCP Dean's List for their first professional year from 2010 to 2015.

Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim versus fluoroquinolones for the treatment of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bloodstream infections.

Objectives: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia causes high mortality rates, especially in bloodstream infections (BSIs) where there is a lack of comparative data with fluoroquinolones (FQs) and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT). The objective of this study was to evaluate outcomes in patients with S. maltophilia BSI who were treated with FQs versus SXT.

Integrated Case Management: Does It Reduce Health Service Disparities Across African American and White Medicaid Beneficiaries?

Evidence of persistent racial and ethnic disparities in health service use is substantial. Even among Medicaid beneficiaries, minority individuals may have lower use of specific health services relative to Whites due to varying degrees of trust in the health system, beliefs about the usefulness of medical treatment, provider stereotyping, or geographic service availability. Prior research demonstrated that a Florida Medicaid disease management program led to reductions in service disparities between Whites and African Americans.

The Impact of Integrated Case Management on Health Services Use and Spending Among Nonelderly Adult Medicaid Enrollees.

Background: Medicaid plans, whose patients often have complex medical, social, and behavioral needs, seek tools to effectively manage enrollees and improve access to quality care while containing costs.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of an integrated case management (ICM) program operated by a Medicaid managed care plan on health service use and spending for nonelderly, nonpregnant adults.

Research Design: We estimate the relationship between intensity of ICM program involvement and changes in utilization and spending for patients who participated in ICM.

Fluoroquinolone and Macrolide Exposure Predict Clostridium difficile Infection with the Highly Fluoroquinolone- and Macrolide-Resistant Epidemic C. difficile Strain BI/NAP1/027.

Antibiotics have been shown to influence the risk of infection with specific Clostridium difficile strains as well as the risk of C. difficile infection (CDI). We performed a retrospective case-control study of patients infected with the epidemic BI/NAP1/027 strain in a U.

Risk of fracture and the concomitant use of bisphosphonates with osteoporosis-inducing medications.

Objective: To review the literature on the concomitant use of bisphosphonates and medications that can influence bone metabolism and potentially attenuate bisphosphonate antifracture efficacy.

Data Sources: MEDLINE and CINAHL were searched for articles published in English through December 2014 using the following terms: bisphosphonates, bone density conservation agents, acid-suppressive therapy, levothyroxine, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), bone fractures.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Studies were included if they reported results of concomitant use of any listed medications with bisphosphonates and risk of fractures and focused on women.