A Multicenter, Retrospective Outcome Analysis of Vancomycin Area Under the Curve versus Trough-Based Dosing Strategies in Patients with Burn OR Inhalational Injuries (MONITOR).

Vancomycin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that requires close therapeutic monitoring. Prolonged exposure to elevated concentrations increases risk for serious adverse effects such as nephrotoxicity. However, sub-therapeutic concentrations may lead to bacterial resistance and clinical failure or death. The most recent Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) publication regarding therapeutic monitoring of vancomycin recommends utilizing area under the curve (AUC)-based monitoring to maximize clinical success. Despite the guideline recommendation for AUC-guided dosing, many institutions still use trough-only monitoring in their practices, including those caring for patients with acute burn injuries. Following burn injury, patients are at a higher risk for infections, multi-organ failure, and pharmacokinetic alterations. The primary objective of this multi-center retrospective study is to determine optimal therapeutic monitoring of vancomycin by comparing clinical success between AUC vs. trough-based monitoring in burn patients. MONITOR was a multicenter, retrospective study of patients with thermal or inhalation injury admitted to one of 13 burn centers from 1/1/17 to 8/31/22 who received vancomycin. Demographic and clinical course data, including acute kidney injury (AKI) incidence and clinical success were obtained. Patients were evaluated for clinical success and grouped according to method of monitoring and adjusting doses: AUC vs. trough-based monitoring. Clinical success was a composite definition and lack of meeting any 1 of 5 criteria: 1) persistent infection, 2) relapse, 3) antibiotic failure (clinical worsening), 4) AKI, 5) death. Five-hundred seventeen vancomycin courses were assessed from 485 patients. There was no difference in the rate of clinical success between AUC monitored and the trough-only monitored groups. Incidence of AKI was higher in the trough-only group; however, was not statistically significant after controlling for renal function on admission, past medical history of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and concomitant nephrotoxins.

The Effect of an Educational Program on Nursing Knowledge and Empowerment in Antimicrobial Stewardship in a Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

BACKGROUND: Hospital antimicrobial stewardship (AS) interventions have been shown to reduce the overuse and misuse of antimicrobials and rates of resistant organisms. To date, nurses have had limited involvement in AS. Improving nursing AS knowledge and sense of empowerment may improve their engagement in AS. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention on AS knowledge and sense of empowerment among bedside registered nurses (RNs) in a surgical intensive care unit in an academic medical center. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental pre-post study. RESULTS: Forty-four RNs (85%) participated. There was a statistically significant (P < .01) increase in both AS knowledge and empowerment level of staff RNs. Registered nurses identified participation in patient care rounds and use of antibiotic timeouts as strategies for increasing their AS engagement. Perceived barriers included lack of physician/other team member support and knowledge deficits. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study indicate that educating nurses on their role in AS improves their knowledge and sense of empowerment for this emerging role. Future studies should examine how nurses apply this knowledge and sense of empowerment to engage in unit-based AS activities and the resultant patient outcomes.

Alkalinizing Agents: A Review of Prescription, Over-the-Counter, and Medical Food Supplements.

Introduction: Kidney stones affect 1 in every 11 people in the United States each year. There is a significant high recurrence rate without a stone prevention protocol. Alkali citrate is beneficial in decreasing stone recurrence, but because of the cost and gastrointestinal side effects there is a low adherence rate. This study aims to serve as a review of some of the most commonly used alkalizing over-the-counter supplements that are advertised to prevent and treat kidney stones. Methods: Data were gathered by a comprehensive online literature search and company inquiries for kidney stone prevention supplements. An additional informal poll of the authors selected supplements that are most commonly taken by their patients. A total of eight supplements were evaluated for cost, alkali equivalent provided, dosing, and regulatory information. Results: Eight of the most commonly used supplements were reviewed with a focus on alkalizing agents. Information reviewed revealed dosing recommendations resulting in decreased citrate alkali equivalents per day compared with prescription-strength potassium citrate. Cost, peer-reviewed study results, and regulatory data were reviewed, tabulated, and analyzed. Cost per alkali equivalent was substantially decreased for each supplement compared with the prescribed drug. All supplements were found to be readily available online. Conclusion: Over-the-counter alkalizing agents are available to patients and may be an appropriate alternative to cost-prohibitive potassium citrate when treating urolithiasis patients. Additional testing will be necessary in the future to determine the efficacy of these supplements in the treatment and prevention of urinary stone disease.

Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Due to Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitor Use in Two Patients Undergoing Pancreatectomy.

Background: Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA) is a potential side effect associated with inhibitors of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2). This effect is most often recognized during physiologic stress (i.e., sepsis) or in patients who undergo surgery. Case presentations: Case 1: A 66-year-old woman underwent distal pancreatectomy with en bloc splenectomy after presenting with a biopsy-proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the body of the pancreas noted incidentally on a screening magnetic resonance imaging for an ovarian mass. The patient had a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and used canagliflozin, which she was instructed to hold 24 h before surgery. Case 2: A 75-year-old man underwent a pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy after presenting with obstructive jaundice. This patient also had a history of T2DM and was on dapagliflozin, which he was also instructed to hold 24 h before surgery. Postoperatively, both patients were diagnosed with euDKA, which was suspected primarily because of intraoperative and postoperative polyuria. Conclusions: SGLT-2 inhibitors are associated with euDKA that can be potentiated in patients who undergo surgery. This medication side effect can be easily unrecognized and potentially lead to significant morbidity.

A 61-year-old woman develops polyuria after hip revision.

A 61-year-old previously healthy woman developed progressive hearing and visual loss over a period of 2-3 months prior to admission. Her medical/surgical history was remarkable for a left hip arthroplasty 11 years ago requiring revision approximately 6 months prior to admission. After dislocating the revised hip, she re-presented to her surgeon and underwent a closed reduction. Several weeks following the reduction, the patient began having polyuria and symptoms of hearing and vision loss along with numbness in her extremities and abdominal region.

Intracranial hypertension secondary to psychogenic polydipsia.

Psychogenic polydipsia, in its most severe form, can lead to acute water intoxication by way of extreme hyponatremia. This results in cerebral edema, mental status deterioration and can lead to life threatening intracranial hypertension if not identified and treated urgently. However, this treatment rarely involves surgical intervention. Herein, we describe a 47-year-old man who presented to our emergency department who was found down with a decline in mental status and generalized tonic clonic seizures. He was comatose with glasgow coma score of 5. His exam was notable for sluggishly reactive pupils, absence of corneal reflexes, decorticate posturing, and globally increased tone and hyper-reflexia with upgoing toes bilaterally. Lab work revealed sodium of 107 mmol/L. CT scan of the head showed global cerebral edema with sulcal effacement. A ventriculostomy was placed with an opening pressure of 35-cm H(2)O, and cerebrospinal fluid was drained to maintain normal intracranial pressure. Fluid restriction and hypertonic saline were used to carefully correct the hyponatremia. The patient improved and at day five was neurologically intact. His history later revealed schizophrenia and a predilection for drinking greater than 8 L of diet cola daily.

Hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients treated with antihyperglycemic agents.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence and manifestations of hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients receiving antihyperglycemic therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study was a 3-month prospective review of consecutive medical records of all adult, nonpregnant hospitalized patients at a 675-bed university hospital who experienced at least 1 blood glucose (BG)