Polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution increases tablet dissolution of acetaminophen in an in vitro model mimicking acute poisoning.

INTRODUCTION: Polyethylene glycol electrolyte lavage solution (PEG-ELS) is similar to pharmaceutical solvent propylene glycol and used following acute poisonings for whole bowel irrigation (e.g., "body stuffing"). This raises concern of PEG-ELS increasing solubility following acute ingestions of non-sustained release xenobiotics in the stomach. We theorized PEG-ELS increases solubility of acetaminophen in an in vitro stomach model. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An in vitro artificial stomach with 500 mL simulated gastric fluid and either 500 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% (group A) or 500 mL of PEG-ELS (group B). Ten non-sustained release acetaminophen tablets added with concentrations 0, 15, 45 and 90 min in triplicate. Mean concentrations and mean area under the curve (AUC) (mg-min/L to 90 min). RESULTS: In control group A (normal saline + simulated gastric fluid) mean acetaminophen concentrations 0, 3, 13 and 36 mg/L at 0, 15, 45 and 90 min, respectively. In group B (PEG-ELS + simulated gastric fluid) mean acetaminophen concentrations 0, 34, 109 and 136 mg/L at 0, 15, 45 and 90 min, respectively (p < 0.05). Mean AUC 0-90 1385 [95% C.I. 990.5-1779] mg-min/L in control group A compared to mean AUC 0-90 in group B (PEG-ELS) 7673 mg-min/L [95% C.I. 4832-10513] (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Group B (PEG-ELS) with significantly higher mean acetaminophen concentrations and greater mean AUC compared to control group A (normal saline). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated increased mean acetaminophen concentrations and increased mean AUC of following exposure of PEG-ELS in an artificial stomach model.

The effect of interprofessional simulations on pharmacy and physician assistant students' learning of advanced cardiac life support concepts.

BACKGROUND: The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) defined core competencies for IPE in 2011, and use of simulation in interprofessional education (IPE) continues to be developed in prelicensure health education programs. INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ACTIVITY: In this prospective, observational study, interprofessional student teams addressed reversible causes of cardiac arrest in weekly simulations during an Emergency Medicine course. Each simulation was followed by sequential team debriefs, first regarding the IPEC core competencies of interprofessional communication, teamwork, and roles and responsibilities, and second regarding the patient-related content of the case. DISCUSSION: Twenty-eight pharmacy students and 60 physician assistant students completed the course. A didactic knowledge exam was administered before, immediately after, and 150 days after the course. Both disciplines' exam scores significantly increased from baseline to the end of the course and from baseline to the 150-day follow-up. Students also completed the validated Interprofessional Perceptions Survey before and after the course. Both disciplines demonstrated significant increases in Team Value, Efficiency and Interprofessional Accommodation components. IMPLICATIONS: Participation in this simulation-based course resulted in 150-day retention of advanced cardiovascular life support knowledge and improved interprofessional perceptions in both pharmacy and physician assistant students.

Development of an emergency medicine pharmacy intensity score tool.

PURPOSE: Emergency medicine pharmacists (EMPs) have been demonstrated to have a positive impact on patient outcomes in a variety of clinical scenarios in the emergency department (ED), yet their distribution across the nation is suboptimal. An emergency medicine pharmacy intensity score tool (EMPIST) would not only facilitate the quantification of EMP staffing needs and ideal resource deployment times, but would also allow practitioners to triage patient care activities. The purpose of this investigation was to develop an EMPIST and evaluate its relationship to EMP activities. METHODS: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational analysis of an EMPIST developed by practicing EMPs. EMPs prospectively documented their clinical activities during usual care for patients in their ED. Spearman's rank-order correlation was used to determine any correlation between the EMPIST and pharmacist activities. RESULTS: In total, 970 EMP activities and 584 EMPIST items were documented in 352 patients by 7 EMPs across 7 different EDs. The most commonly documented EMP interventions performed were bedside monitoring (12.7%), initiation of nonantimicrobial therapy (12.6%), and antimicrobial therapy initiation and streamlining (10.6%). The total EMPIST was found to significantly correlate with EMP activities, and this correlation was consistent across both "diagnostic/presentation" and "medication" items (P < 0.001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSION: The EMPIST significantly correlated with EMP activities, with consistent correlation across all subgroups. Its utilization has the potential to enhance bedside clinical practice and optimize the deployment of limited EMP services. Additional investigations are needed to examine the validity of this tool and identify any relationship it may have to patient outcomes.

Development of a Bamlanivimab Infusion Process in the Emergency Department for Outpatient COVID-19 Patients.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted the creation of new therapies to help fight against the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Bamlanivimab is a SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody that is administered as an intravenous infusion to ambulatory patients with mild or moderate COVID-19, but a concern that arose was deciding the optimal location for patients to receive the medication. This report describes the development and implementation of a bamlanivimab infusion center in the emergency department of three hospitals in Orange County, California, shortly after bamlanivimab received emergency use authorization. As a result, a total of 601 patients received bamlanivimab in one of these three emergency departments between December 2020 to April 2021. The emergency department was shown to be an optimal setting for administration of bamlanivimab due to its convenience, accessibility, and capabilities for monitoring patients.

Management of Heart Failure in the Older Adult: Treatment and Opportunities.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a review of the available evidence regarding pharmacotherapy and areas of pharmacist intervention in transitions of care (TOC) for the geriatric population with heart failure (HF).
DATA SOURCES: A PubMed search of articles published from 1995 through July 2018 was performed using a combination of the following words: heart failure, geriatric, elderly, (TOC), multidisciplinary, pharmacist.
STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION: Relevant original research, review articles, and guidelines were assessed for the management of elderly patients with HF. References from the above literature were also evaluated. Articles were selected for inclusion based on relevance to the topic, detailed methods, and complete results.
DATA SYNTHESIS: HF is a common cause of morbidity, mortality, and hospitalizations in the elderly population. While it is important that patients adhere to evidencebased medications for HF, there are additional precautions and monitoring recommendations for this population because of a higher risk of adverse effects. Elderly patients with HF also require additional care during the transition of care process because they are at high risk for readmission during this time because of a variety of factors, including medication changes, barriers to medication use, and lack of communication between health care providers. As part of a multidisciplinary team, pharmacists can help to identify and address issues.
CONCLUSION: Pharmacists can improve patient care outcomes in patients with HF by providing updated recommendations on pharmacotherapy and being involved in the TOC process.
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