Hemoptysis Resolution with Rituximab in Behçet's Disease: A Case Report.

Behçet's disease (BD) is a multisystem, progressive, and inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Vasculitis is believed to underlie various clinical manifestations of BD and is known to be one of the main causes of death due to BD, in cases of large vessel involvement. The current study is done in order to examine the effects of rituximab on the patient's debilitating clinical manifestations, as a result of not responding to the standard treatment regimens. The present case is a 28-year-old female patient with BD associated vasculitis. She was referred to the respiratory referral center, chiefly complaining of intermittent episodes of massive hemoptysis. She had also recurrent oral and genital ulcers, and difficulty in walking, despite considering the common treatment approaches for BD. Our patient received two courses of rituximab in combination with intravenous methylprednisolone. Over six months follow-up period from the date of treatment initiation with rituximab, symptoms of BD such as recurrent hemoptysis and aphthous ulcers were reduced in both frequency and severity. Lower limb weakness and difficulty in walking were improved as well. To summarize, rituximab appears to be an effective alternative for treatment-resistant vasculitis in BD patients.

Medication Interaction and Physicians' Compliance Assessment through Medication Reconciliation Forms in a University Affiliated Hospital.

Medication interactions are associated with various unwanted adverse drug reactions. Medication Reconciliation involves a process in which a complete list of patient's previously prescribed medications are recorded and subsequently evaluated within the context of concomitantly prescribed medications and present medical condition during the hospitalization. Medical records of randomly selected 270 patients hospitalized in internal medicine, cardiovascular and infectious diseases wards were evaluated. Drug interactions were checked by LexiComp® database. Each interaction was assigned a risk rating of A, B, C, D, or X. The progression from A to X was based on increased urgency for responding to the data. Completed reconciliation forms were attached to patient charts for evaluation of physicians' compliance. Drug interactions were observed in 65.2% (176/270) of cases. The risk rating of interactions was categorized as C, D and X in 54.2%, 32.4%, and 13.4% of cases, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the number of prescribed medications and the rate of interactions (p-value < 0.001, Kendall's correlation coefficient = 0.487). Moreover, the length of hospitalization and the rate of drug interactions were significantly correlated (p-value < 0.001, Kendall's correlation coefficient = 0.350). Cardiovascular agents constituted the largest proportion of interactions (25%) followed by antibiotics (18%) and immunosuppressive agents (6%). In 59.6% of cases, no corrective action was taken by the physicians. Medication discrepancies occur commonly in hospital settings. Structured medication reconciliation may have a positive impact on prevention of medication errors.

Study Protocol on Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Tertiary Respiratory Referral Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial stewardship program is a comprehensive, longitudinal program designed to improve and measure the appropriateness of antimicrobial use while increasing patients' safety, decreasing cost of patients' care, and combating emerging antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance, specially emerging multidrug-resistance and extremely drug-resistance gram negative bacteria, is an important concern in the modern world. This is particularly problematic since antimicrobials in production pipelines are not meeting the demand for the emerging resistance micro-organisms; in another word "we are running out of options". Indiscriminate use of antimicrobial may increase the risk for resistance, and drug toxicity. The aim of this study is to implement an evidence-based antimicrobial stewardship program in a tertiary referral hospital. This study will assure consistency of the stewardship program and measure outcomes to further assess the effectiveness of this program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After establishment of antimicrobial stewardship committee and endorsement of policies the program will be conducted in all hospital medical wards. In an observational study, all patients receiving antimicrobials included in the program will be closely monitored for primary and secondary outcomes. Hospital's antimicrobial resistance patterns are monitored periodically to assess improvement. The quality indicators will be assessed to ensure proper execution of the program over time. RESULTS: As a study protocol, there are no results available to be reported at this time. CONCLUSION: We are expecting to observe significant reduction in cost of antibiotic use shortly after program execution. By more appropriate utilization of antibiotics patients' safety will be increased. Furthermore, we are expecting to detect improvement in antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Increasing the number of adverse drug reactions reporting: the role of clinical pharmacy residents.

Detection of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in hospitals provides an important measure of the burden of drug related morbidity on the healthcare system. Spontaneous reporting of ADRs is scare and several obstacles to such reporting have been identified formerly. This study aimed to determine the role of clinical pharmacy residents in ADR reporting within a hospital setting. Clinical pharmacy residents were trained to report all suspected ADRs through ADR-reporting yellow cards. The incidence, pattern, seriousness, and preventability of the reported ADRs were analyzed. During the period of 12 months, for 8559 patients, 202 ADR reports were received. The most frequently reported reactions were due to anti-infective agents (38.38%). Rifampin accounted for the highest number of the reported ADRs among anti-infective agents. The gastro-intestinal system was the most frequently affected system (21.56%) of all reactions. Fifty four of the ADRs were reported as serious reactions. Eighteen of the ADRs were classified as preventable. Clinical pharmacy residents' involvement in the ADR reporting program could improve the ADR reporting system.

The Effect of Garcin® in Preventing AntiTB-Induced Hepatitis in Newly Diagnosed Tuberculosis Patients.

Adverse effects of antituberculosis agents such as hepatotoxicity may reduce treatment effectiveness, because they significantly contribute to nonadherence and eventually result in treatment failure, relapse or the emergence of drug resistance. Garlic is an ancient herbal substance, which its effectiveness on isoniazid and rifampicin-induced hepatic injury in animal models has been demonstrated (1). In the present study a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial was designed to assess the effect(s) of garlic tablets (1000 mg daily) administered for two weeks orally. Fifty eight newly diagnosed, smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients, with age ranges between 18-65 years old, were randomly allocated into two groups. Each patient received either garlic or placebo tablets for the first two weeks of tuberculosis treatment. Of total 58 patients, 31 received garlic tablets while 27 received placebo. No significant difference was found between the two groups regarding age, sex, nationality, smoking, underlying diseases and opium usage. During 8 weeks of anti-TB (antituberculosis) treatment, 8 (13.0%) patients developed drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH). Of them, 6 (75%) occurred in the first two weeks of treatment. Fifty percent of the patients who developed DIH were in garlic group. Results indicated no significant difference between groups in developing DIH (p=1.000). We could not show a significant role in preventing DIH by 1000 mg daily garlic administration.