European journal of hospital pharmacy : science and practice最新文献

Background: The use of dose administration aids in automated ward dispensing devices requires the repackaging of medications, which may impact their stability compared with the original manufacturer's packaging.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the physical and chemical stability of clozapine tablets for up to 84 days after repackaging.

Methods: A total of 900 tablets of clozapine 100 mg (Viatris) were repackaged and stored under five different conditions to conduct physical and chemical stability tests on days 0, 28, 56 and 84. The results were compared with control tablets in their original packaging. Visual inspections of tablet appearance were performed. Physical tests included assessments of mass uniformity, friability and resistance to crushing, following the standards of the European Pharmacopoeia 11th edition. The chemical stability was determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem-mass spectrometry detection (UHPLC-MS/MS) to measure clozapine concentration, N-desmethyl-clozapine, and monitor clozapine degradation to detect formation of any degradation products other than N-desmethyl-clozapine.

Results: Visual examination showed changes in the appearance of tablets only in those stored under UV light. Mass uniformity met standards for all tablets over 84 days. None passed the friability test due to tablet cracking after tumbling. A gradual deterioration in tablet hardness was observed with the resistance to crushing test. In terms of chemical stability, N-desmethyl-clozapine was undetected in any of the tablets stored under all conditions, and the mean concentration of clozapine remained within the target range over 84 days.

Conclusion: N-desmethyl-clozapine was not detected and clozapine concentrations remained stable under all storage conditions. The tablets were compliant with the mass uniformity test in each condition. However, the tablets were cracked in the friability test and gradual deterioration in tablet hardness was observed. In the light of these results, the Vinatier Hospital pharmacy has chosen to establish a shelf life for clozapine tablets of 84 days.

Neutropenia is a rare complication of drug therapy and is usually underdiagnosed. Cefoperazone/sulbactam is a combination of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Data on cefoperazone/sulbactam-induced neutropenia are limited. Herein, we report the case of a 35 year-old female patient who was admitted to the hospital due to an appendiceal abscess. After anti-infective treatment with cefoperazone/sulbactam, the patient developed neutropenia on day 4. After discontinuing treatment with cefoperazone/sulbactam, the patient's white blood cells and neutrophils gradually returned to normal. Hence, clinicians should monitor changes in neutrophil count during cefoperazone/sulbactam therapy and provide timely treatment.

A 53-year-old male with recovering alcohol dependency, diagnosed with bipolar disorder and recurrent episodes of diverticulitis, came to the emergency department with disorientation and confusion after 3 days of treatment with metronidazole 250 mg/12 hours and ciprofloxacin 500 mg/12 hours for acute diverticulitis. In the hospital emergency department, he presented moments of agitation, fluctuations of attitude, increased basal tremor, with rhythmic movement of the left arm and leg, as well as generalised rigidity with an episode of tonic-clonic seizure of 1.5-2 min duration. After performing different diagnostic tests, significant brain findings were ruled out. The pharmacy department recommended the discontinuation of one of the two drugs. As a result, the on-call doctor adjusted the patient's treatment: disulfiram and previous antibiotic therapy (metronidazole and ciprofloxacin) were discontinued, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 2 g/8 hour was prescribed instead. The patient progressed well and fully recovered.

Objectives: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are among the leading standalone causes of morbidity and hospitalisation and contribute substantially to an increase in healthcare expenditure. Repeat ADR events, although difficult to quantify, are a recognised problem that lead to preventable suffering for the patient. The current approaches for the prevention of ADR recurrence in low/middle-income countries range from inefficient to non-existent. There is very little literature that focuses on the preventability of ADRs in such settings. This study aimed to develop the ADR Alert Card, an economical innovation designed as a stop gap in preventing ADR recurrence, and to evaluate its utility by validating the system through input from medical professionals.

Methods: The ADR Alert Card was validated and registered with the Copyrights Office of the Government of India. To obtain the opinion of healthcare professionals and gauge the status quo in prevention of ADR recurrence, we conducted an online descriptive cross-sectional study over a period of 6 months.

Results: The survey received 218 responses. Demographics varied, ranging across different healthcare specialties and years of experience. Our study found that existing practice in ADR recurrence prevention was inadequate, and most healthcare workers were unaware of an alternative approach. Unique solutions were provided by the respondents, with the majority favouring a card format for preventing recurrence.

Conclusions: After being introduced to the ADR Alert Card, there was an overwhelming consensus on the utility and practicality of this card in preventing ADR recurrence.

Objectives: Automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) offer improved medication safety, greater efficiency and return on investment. However, integrating ADCs into medication dispensing processes can be challenging in complex hospital environments. This study aimed to draft suggestions to help hospitals adopt ADCs.

Methods: Two-day visits were organised in seven European hospitals operating ADCs. Investigators used an observational grid, a questionnaire and interviews, each divided into the themes of medication processes before and after the introduction of ADCs, the major steps followed and the resources involved, ergonomics and staff perceptions.

Results: ADCs were integrated into four global hospital medication dispensing systems (packs of drugs are distributed from the central pharmacy to wards for dispensing) and three nominative systems-that is, patient-specific ones (drug doses prescribed for individuals are distributed from the central pharmacy to wards with ADC as supplementary stock). A general ADC project implementation timeline was shaped: main drivers of automation to initiate the project, visit of other sites, pilot test (with IT integration and staff training), and evaluation phase (satisfaction, safety, efficiency) to justify a possible expansion. Users (7 pharmacists, 21 nurses, 7 data engineers) identified facilitators (such as a dedicated project manager, a pilot phase, an intuitive device), barriers and any improvements needed (training for incoming staff, reorganisation of ward workflow, dynamic inventories).

Conclusions: Despite their diverse pharmacy organisations, each hospital raised similar challenges and reported analogous major steps in project implementation. Although integration processes are complex, ADCs rapidly provide users with benefits. By following the practical advice and recommendations from these hospitals, new adopters might reduce the risks of failed ADC projects and accelerate their integration.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of pharmaceutical care on the number of readmissions and visits to the emergency department due to heart failure 30 days after hospital discharge, based on a programme of continuous pharmaceutical care throughout the care process, and to assess the differences between the control and intervention groups at 90 days after discharge (number of readmissions and visits to the emergency department, time from discharge to new readmission or visit to the emergency department).

Methods: A single-centre experimental longitudinal prospective open and parallel-group study with balanced randomisation (1:1) was carried out in a tertiary hospital in Spain. Patients with a diagnosis of primary or decompensated heart failure admitted to the Cardiology Service or the Heart Failure and Vascular Risk Unit were recruited between March 2019 and November 2021 and randomly assigned, using a randomised block model, to the control (standard care) or intervention (continuing care model) groups. Epidemiological, clinical and pharmacology data were recorded. As a measure of association, we used the mean difference and the Student's t-test. A p value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results: 296 patients were included (150 randomised to the control group, 146 to the intervention group). The results showed no significant differences between the control and intervention groups in the number of readmissions and visits to the emergency department during the 30 days after discharge (p=0.092), but a statistically significant difference was seen at 90 days (p=0.043). The number of days until the first visit to the emergency department or readmission was higher in the intervention group (p=0.021).

Conclusions: Continuous care and follow-up by the pharmacist 30 days after discharge has a neutral impact on hospital readmissions and visits to the emergency department of patients with heart failure, but it is positive in the 90 days following discharge.

Objectives: Therapeutic patient education (TPE) plays a critical role in the management of kidney transplant recipients. However, discrepancies exist in the guidance provided regarding the usage of immunosuppressants across different kidney transplant centres in France.

Methods: To assess the current landscape of TPE practices in this patient population, an online questionnaire consisting of 51 questions was distributed to 32 French renal transplantation centres.

Results: The participation rate in our survey was 96.9%, (31 of the 32 centres contacted). The respondents had diverse professions: they were nurses (15/31), physicians (9/31) and pharmacists (7/31). Virtually all institutions have implemented TPE initiatives, with an implementation rate of 93.5% (29/31). The topic of anti-rejection medication was consistently addressed, with only one centre not providing support at the conclusion of these sessions. However, the content of the sessions varied significantly from one centre to another, particularly regarding the proper management of anti-rejection medications. Only 19.4% (6/31) of the centres provided the correct recommendation regarding fasting when taking tacrolimus. Dietary guidance was a topic covered in 89.7% (26/29) of the centres, but significant divergences were also observed. TPE teams primarily consisted of nurses, with pharmacists present in only 51.6% (16/31) of the centres. We also observed limited involvement of patient partners, with just 9.7% (3/31) of the centres including them in their programme.

Conclusion: These findings highlight considerable variability in the approach towards TPE among kidney transplant centres. Addressing counselling variability and increasing pharmacist and patient partner involvement is an essential step to improving the quality and effectiveness of TPE. By establishing a standardised and comprehensive approach to patient education, healthcare providers can ensure that kidney transplant recipients receive information that will ultimately help them improve their health and well-being.

Objective: To identify and promote hospital pharmacy initiatives to improve the management of patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) within the Spanish healthcare system.

Method: A panel of experts comprising hospital pharmacists, an allergist and a nurse/member of the Spanish Hereditary Angioedema Association (Asociación Española de Angioedema Familiar) highlighted initiatives to improve care for patients with HAE after identifying, evaluating and prioritising them. Prioritisation was assessed based on the impact on patient care and the feasibility of their implementation on a scale of 1-5.

Results: Seven key areas of activity for the role of hospital pharmacists in the management of patients with HAE were identified: evaluation and selection of medicines; hospital pharmacy dispensation and telepharmacy; pharmacotherapy follow-up and telemedicine; coordination with other healthcare teams involved in the care of patients with HAE; patient health education and training; research on HAE; and continuous education and training of hospital pharmacy service personnel. Ten initiatives with a mean impact score of 5 and a mean feasibility score of ≥4.1 were considered as high-priority initiatives. Half of the initiatives belong to the area concerning patient education and training (50%), followed by care coordination initiatives (30%) and continuous education and training (20%).

Conclusions: Ten high-priority initiatives for the management of patients with HAE were identified by a panel of experts. The implementation of such initiatives by the hospital pharmacy service should enhance the management of patients with HAE in the Spanish healthcare system.