Hospital Pharmacy最新文献

Background: Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS) is a nonselective sodium-potassium exchange resin commonly used along with intravenous (IV) insulin, albuterol, furosemide, and/or calcium for the treatment of acute hyperkalemia. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) is a newer non-absorbed exchange resin that preferentially increases fecal potassium excretion from the gastrointestinal tract. Limited data exists on the efficacy of SZC for the treatment of acute hyperkalemia. Objectives: To assess the achievement of normokalemia (serum potassium level [K+] 3.5-5.2 mmol/L) within 24 hours after administration of SZC or SPS in combination with insulin regular IV push. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective chart review (2020-2021) using electronic medical records at an academic health system. The study population included adult patients receiving one or more doses of SZC or SPS in combination with IV insulin for acute hyperkalemia (K+ >5.2 mmol/L). Patients receiving dialysis were excluded. Serum chemistries were assessed at baseline and an additional 2 values within 24 hours to determine normokalemia and hypokalemia at each follow-up. Results: Of 141 patients included, 51 received SZC and 90 received SPS. Normokalemia at the first follow-up was achieved in 51.0% of patients receiving SZC and 46.7% of patients receiving SPS (P = .622) and was sustained in 35.3%versus 44.4% (P = .289) of patients within 24 hours. Mean serum potassium differences from baseline to first follow-up were similar between SZC and SPS groups (0.9 mmol/L vs 1.0 mmol/L). Hypokalemia within 24 hours of administration occurred in 4 patients-1 in SZC, 3 in SPS. Conclusion: Both SZC and SPS yielded similar rates of normokalemia achievement with IV insulin for the treatment of acute hyperkalemia. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Objectives: Pathogenic organisms utilize iron to survive and replicate and have evolved many processes to extract iron from human hosts. The goal of this study was to elucidate the impact of iron supplementation given in the setting of acute infection. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of Veterans Affairs patients who received intravenous antibiotics for pneumonia or skin and skin structure infections. Five-thousand subjects were included in each of the 2 cohorts: iron-receiving and non-iron-receiving. Data was analyzed using Fischer's Exact test if categorical and independent t-tests if continuous. Primary and secondary objectives analyzed with Cox proportional hazard regression and outcome rates estimated utilizing Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Five-thousand patients were included in each cohort. The iron cohort was significantly older (Mean-years: Iron = 71.6, No-iron = 68.9; mean-difference = 2.7, P < .0001) with reduced renal function (Mean-eGFR[mL/min/1.73 m²]: Iron = 67.2, No-iron = 77.4; mean-difference = 10.2, P < .0001). For the primary outcome, the iron cohort had a significantly longer mean length of hospital stay (10.4 days) compared to the no-iron cohort (8.7 days) (mean difference 1.7 days, P < .0001). Secondary outcome analysis showed the iron cohort received intravenous antibiotics for longer (Iron = 8.2 days, No-iron = 7.1 days; mean-difference = 1.1 days, P < .0001) with a higher proportion of 30-day readmissions (Iron = 15.6%, No-iron = 12.8%; proportion difference = 2.8%, P < .0001). No significant difference was found between cohort proportions for 30-day mortality (Iron = 12.7%, No-iron = 11.3%, proportion difference = 1.4%, P = .052). Conclusions: Baseline characteristic differences between cohorts is representative of patients who would be expected to require iron replacement therapy. Given the magnitude of primary and secondary-outcomes, further studies controlling for these factors would be warranted.

Background: The burden of renal diseases is increasing in developing countries like Tanzania. Drug accumulation exposes patients with renal impairment to drug toxicity that may lead to adverse drug reactions, poor adherence to treatment, and increased healthcare costs. There is limited information on the appropriateness of dosage regimen adjustment for patients with renal impairment, particularly in developing countries such as Tanzania. This study aimed to investigate the appropriateness of drug dosing in hospitalized patients with renal impairment in Tanzania. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. It was conducted between November 2019 and April 2020 amongst hospitalized patients at Muhimbili National Hospital. All enrolled patients had serum creatinine levels ≥1.2 mg/dL and taking at least one drug requiring dosage regimen adjustment. Creatinine clearance was calculated from patient serum creatinine using the Cockcroft-Gault equation. Drug dosing appropriateness was determined by comparing the current practice with tertiary references. The relationship between the patient's baseline characteristics and the rate of dosage regimen adjustment was determined using the X² test. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis evaluated the predictors of dosing adjustment. Results: Most of the enrolled patients, 269 (98.9%) had comorbidities. Of the medication orders included in the final analysis, 372 (27%) needed dosage regimen adjustment. Out of the 372 medication orders, not adjusted were 168 (45.2%), inappropriately adjusted 105 (28.2%), and appropriately adjusted were only 99 (26.6%). In this study, 212 (77.9%) patients received at least one drug with an incorrect dosage regimen. Females and those with level 4 renal impairment patients were more likely to have their doses appropriately adjusted compared to their counterparts. Conclusions: In this study, about three-quarters of the patients received at least one drug with an incorrect dosage regimen. Thus, appropriate measures such as the availability of national guidelines and clinical decision support systems for drug dosing adjustment in patients' renal impairment should be in place.