Impact of a pharmacist-driven antimicrobial stewardship program in a private hospital in Costa Rica.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact generated by the implementation of the pharmacy-driven antimicrobial stewardship program of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study that evaluates the consumption of antibiotics for the periods before and during implementation of the Clínica Bíblica Hospital antimicrobial stewardship program, calculated by means of defined daily dose per 1 000 patient-days and days of therapy per 1 000 patient-days. In addition, bacterial resistance patterns for the periods 2014-2015 and 2016-2017 were compared. RESULTS: Consumption of most-used antibiotics was calculated, looking for trends that might be associated with the activities implemented by the Clínica Bíblica Hospital antimicrobial stewardship program. Comparing some of the antibiotics with the highest consumption in periods I and II, use of levofloxacin and ceftriaxone showed a decrease of 54.0% (p < 0.001) and 14.6% (p = 0.003), respectively, whereas there was an increase in the use of cefazolin of 4 539.3% (p < 0.001). Regarding percentage of bacterial resistance, in most bacterial isolates no statistically significant changes were observed between the two periods. CONCLUSIONS: A reduction in the overall consumption of antibiotics has been achieved over time, most likely attributable to the antimicrobial stewardship program. However, this trend was not observed for all the antibiotics studied. The pattern of resistance among the commonly isolated microorganisms did not vary greatly between the periods studied, which suggests that either the antimicrobial stewardship program may have prevented an increase in bacterial resistance since its implementation, or that it is too soon to see impact on bacterial resistance.

Enhancing Transitions of Care: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study on the Role of Clinical Pharmacists in Transition Management in a Latin American Hospital.

Background The seamless management of transitions of care (TOC) is necessary for patient safety, as it directly correlates with a heightened risk of medication errors and adverse effects. Clinical pharmacists emerge as key stakeholders in optimizing medication management during TOC, specifically during hospital admission and discharge, through the implementation of innovative programs that contribute significantly to the mitigation of medication errors and improve patient satisfaction. Aim This study aims to assess the benefits of pharmacist-led interventions in a Costa Rican private hospital's TOC program for polymedicated and high-risk patients during admission and discharge by identifying and addressing medication errors. Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Clínica Biblica Hospital in San José, Costa Rica, from February 2022 to May 2023 and focused on polymedicated patients with chronic therapy and high-risk medications. The TOC Medication Program was specifically implemented to focus on medication reconciliation during the admission and discharge processes. A clinical pharmacist documented interventions based on discrepancies found within each patient's medication and assessed the economic impact of interventions on healthcare personnel during discharge by projecting potential complications in the absence of such interventions, a process that was validated by an internist physician. Results During the medication reconciliation at admission, medication discrepancies, mostly intentional omissions, were successfully addressed by clinical pharmacist interventions with a 90.2% acceptance rate during the admission process. At discharge, 18.9% of medications were high-risk, and nearly 40% of discharges were linked to drug-related problems (DRPs), prompting pharmaceutical interventions. The economic analysis indicated potential savings of $21,010.20 during discharge, demonstrating the substantial impact of interventions in preventing emergency service visits, specialist consults, and hospital admissions. Conclusion Pharmacist-led TOC programs offer important clinical advantages by effectively preventing and rectifying medication discrepancies. These discrepancies, if left unaddressed, pose a potential threat to patient safety. Moreover, the implementation of such programs demonstrates promising economic benefits.

An updated examination of the perception of barriers for pharmacogenomics implementation and the usefulness of drug/gene pairs in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Pharmacogenomics (PGx) is considered an emergent field in developing countries. Research on PGx in the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region remains scarce, with limited information in some populations. Thus, extrapolations are complicated, especially in mixed populations. In this paper, we reviewed and analyzed pharmacogenomic knowledge among the LAC scientific and clinical community and examined barriers to clinical application. We performed a search for publications and clinical trials in the field worldwide and evaluated the contribution of LAC. Next, we conducted a regional structured survey that evaluated a list of 14 potential barriers to the clinical implementation of biomarkers based on their importance. In addition, a paired list of 54 genes/drugs was analyzed to determine an association between biomarkers and response to genomic medicine. This survey was compared to a previous survey performed in 2014 to assess progress in the region. The search results indicated that Latin American and Caribbean countries have contributed 3.44% of the total publications and 2.45% of the PGx-related clinical trials worldwide thus far. A total of 106 professionals from 17 countries answered the survey. Six major groups of barriers were identified. Despite the region's continuous efforts in the last decade, the primary barrier to PGx implementation in LAC remains the same, the "need for guidelines, processes, and protocols for the clinical application of pharmacogenetics/pharmacogenomics". Cost-effectiveness issues are considered critical factors in the region. Items related to the reluctance of clinicians are currently less relevant. Based on the survey results, the highest ranked (96%-99%) gene/drug pairs perceived as important were CYP2D6/tamoxifen, CYP3A5/tacrolimus, CYP2D6/opioids, DPYD/fluoropyrimidines, TMPT/thiopurines, CYP2D6/tricyclic antidepressants, CYP2C19/tricyclic antidepressants, NUDT15/thiopurines, CYP2B6/efavirenz, and CYP2C19/clopidogrel. In conclusion, although the global contribution of LAC countries remains low in the PGx field, a relevant improvement has been observed in the region. The perception of the usefulness of PGx tests in biomedical community has drastically changed, raising awareness among physicians, which suggests a promising future in the clinical applications of PGx in LAC.

The risk of treatment-induced QT interval prolongation.

OBJECTIVE: QT interval prolongation can increase patients' hospital stay and  mortality rate. This study aims to determine the incidence of drug-induced QT  interval prolongation and establish which QT interval measurement method is  the most appropriate for electrocardiographic monitoring. METHOD: A retrospective observational study was conducted of patients admitted to the Clínica Bíblica Hospital during 2018. The electronic  medical records of patients hospitalized for longer than 48 hours and whose drug regimen included at least one drug potentially able to prolong the  QT interval were reviewed. Manually-measured QT intervals were corrected using Fridericia's and Rautaharju's formulae, while automatically- measured QT intervals were corrected with Bazett's formula. Risk was assessed  using the RISQ-PATH scale. RESULTS: Of the 141 patients analyzed, 23 had arrhythmia as per their clinical  history and 14 suffered a complication during their stay in hospital. A total of  113 (80%) had a high RISQ-PATH score and only 64 were subjected to an  electrocardiogram on admission. Patients received a mean of three potentially  QT interval prolonging drugs. Most of the QT intervals measured automatically  were shorter than those obtained manually. Of all corrections, the longest QTc  interval values were obtained with Bazett's formula, and the shortest with  Rautaharju's formula. None of the patients developed TdP or complex  ventricular tachycardia. CONCLUSIONS: Every effort should be made to implement strategies conducive to more effective monitoring of the QT interval to prevent QT  nterval prolongation related complications in hospitalized patients.

OBJETIVO: La prolongación del intervalo QT puede aumentar la estancia hospitalaria y la tasa de mortalidad de los pacientes. Esta  investigación determina la incidencia de prolongación del intervalo QT debido al  uso de medicamentos y evalúa el método más apropiado para realizar el  monitoreo electrocardiográfico.Método: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo en pacientes hospitalizados en el Hospital Clínica Bíblica durante el año 2018. Se revisaron los expedientes de los pacientes con hospitalización superior a 48  horas cuya historia clínica incluyera al menos tratamiento con un medicamento que prolongara el intervalo QT y que las medidas manuales del intervalo QT  fueran corregidas con la fórmula Fridericia y Rautaharju, y las medidas  automáticas con la fórmula Bazett. La valoración del riesgo se realizó con la  escala RISQ-PATH. RESULTADOS: De los 141 pacientes analizados, 23 tenían una arritmia previa en  su historia clínica y 14 de ellos sufrieron complicaciones durante la  hospitalización. Un total de 113 (80%) pacientes tenían un valor alto  RISQ­PATH y sólo a 64 se les realizó un electrocardiograma al ingreso. En  promedio, los pacientes recibieron tres medicamentos que aumentaban el  intervalo QT. La mayoría de los QT obtenidos automáticamente fueron más  cortos que aquellos obtenidos en forma manual. De todas las correcciones, los  valores del intervalo QT más largos se obtuvieron con la fórmula de Bazett, y  los más cortos con la fórmula Rautaharju. No ocurrieron eventos como  taquicardia ventricular compleja o torsade de pointes durante el estudio. CONCLUSIONES: Es necesario implementar estrategias que permitan una mejor  monitorización del intervalo QT con el fin de prevenir las complicaciones derivadas en los pacientes hospitalizados.

Colon Cancer Pharmacogenetics: A Narrative Review.

Currently, metastatic colon cancer is treated with monotherapeutic regimens such as folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), capecitabine and oxaliplatin (CapeOX), and leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan hydrochloride (FOLFIRI). Other treatments include biological therapies and immunotherapy with drugs such as bevacizumab, panitumumab, cetuximab, and pembrolizumab. After the research, it was found that some mutations make those treatments not as effective in all patients. In this bibliographic review, we investigated the pharmacogenetic explanations for how mutations in the genes coding for rat sarcoma virus (RAS) and rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF) reduce the effectiveness of these treatments and allow the continued proliferation of tumors. Furthermore, we note that patients with mutations in the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPDY) gene usually require lower doses of therapies such as 5-fluorouracyl (5-FU) and capecitabine to avoid severe adverse effects. Some other mutations in the thymidylate synthase gene (TSYM), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR), and ATP binding cassette transporter B (ABCB1 and ABCB2) affect efficacy and security of the treatments. It is important to address the clinical implication of the oncologist in the study of gene mutations than can influence in the antitumoral response and safety of colon cancer treatments.

Evaluation of pharmacological therapies used in Costa Rica in patients with metastatic gastric cancer: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Surgery is regarded as the best curative treatment option for gastric cancer; however, a high proportion of cases are diagnosed at advanced stages, when tumors are unresectable. In the present study, we evaluated the impact of pharmacological therapies in the survival of 168 patients diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer from Costa Rica, a country with very high incidence and mortality rates for this malignancy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 168 clinical records of patients diagnosed with metastatic gastric cancer from January 2009 to January 2012 at four major hospitals in Costa Rica. The Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of frequencies, while the ANOVA test was used for comparison of quantitative variables. OS and PFS analyses were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The Log-rank test was used to compare survival curves. Univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses were used to calculate the crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence interval (95% CI). RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 46.5 months, the median survival difference between the two groups (pharmacological therapy vs. supportive care) was 5.6 months for PFS and 8.3 months for OS. Patients receiving triple therapy had 69% higher chance of progression than those receiving double therapy (HR =1.69, 95% CI: 1.04-2.73). The probability of dying is 88% higher for the patients receiving triple therapy than for those using double therapy (HR =1.88, 95% CI: 1.15-3.11). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that pharmacological therapies significantly increase the PFS and OS of those patients with metastatic gastric cancer in Costa Rica. The greatest benefit in terms of survival is observed with the use of duplets in comparison with the triplets in these patients.

Evaluation of the expression of the oncogen C-ERBB-2/HER2 in advanced gastric cancer cases from Costa Rica.

JUSTIFICATION: The prevalence of gastric cancer (GC) with increased expression of the HER2 oncoprotein shows important variations worldwide. Incidence and mortality rates of GC in Costa Rica are among the highest in Latin America and the world; however, the prevalence of HER2-positive cases in this country is unknown. Evaluation of this parameter is important to decide the therapeutic approach for GC patients. The aim of this study was to provide an estimation of the prevalence of GC patients overexpressing the HER2 oncogene in Costa Rica. METHODS: The investigation was carried out in two phases. The first one consisted of a retrospective review of 331 clinical records of patients diagnosed with advanced or metastatic GC from January 2010 to January 2012 in four hospitals in Costa Rica. In the second phase, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) analyses were performed in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) surgical samples from 50 patients diagnosed with GC between 2012 and 2015. RESULTS: Of the 331 clinical files reviewed, the assessment of HER2 status was carried out in 62 patients (18.7%), of which only five (8%) were HER2-positive. In the 50 surgical specimens in which IHC and FISH analyses were performed, two of them (4%) presented overexpression and amplification of the HER2 oncogene. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the prevalence of GC cases overexpressing the HER2 oncogene in Costa Rica is less than 8%. This is the first attempt ever undertaken to estimate the prevalence of HER2-positivity in GC in Costa Rica.

Predictors of overall survival after surgery in gastric cancer patients from a Latin-American country.

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths in several Latin-American countries, including Costa Rica. However, determinants of poor outcomes are fairly unknown for patients from this region. The aim of this study was to determine prognostic variables of overall survival (OS) in a cohort of Hispanic patients after curative-intent surgery for gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the clinical records of 236 consecutive patients who underwent surgery for advanced gastric cancer at four major hospitals in Costa Rica. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional models were used to assess the influence of age, sex, clinical stage, adjuvant therapy, type of dissection (D1 vs. D2), extent of gastrectomy (partial vs. total), margin status (R0 vs. R1/2), tumour differentiation, and tumour location on OS. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 46.5 months, median OS was 47.6 months [95% confidence interval (CI): 34.7-60.4]. There was no survival benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy [hazard ratio (HR): 1.18; 95% CI: 0.70-2.00; P=0.53] or postoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (HR: 1.04; 95% CI: 0.71-1.52; P=0.85) compared to surgery alone. After adjustment for potential confounders, the R0 status was associated with better OS (HR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.28-0.92; P=0.03). Similarly, clinical stage (III vs. I) (HR: 2.26; 95% CI: 1.39-4.29; P=0.001), poor differentiated (HR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.22-2.76; P=0.03) and undifferentiated tumours (HR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.39-4.23; P=0.001) were associated with worse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The surgical margin status, clinical stage, and tumour differentiation were predictor variables for OS in this cohort of gastric cancer patients.

Revisión del uso de antibióticos de amplio espectro en el ambiente hospitalario privado en Costa Rica / Review of the use of broad spectrum antibiotics in the private hospital environment in Costa Rica

Justificación: los errores de prescripción en los antibióticos de amplio espectro conducen a problemas de resistencia bacteriana, lo que ha disminuido las opciones farmacológicas para tratar a los pacientes, aumentando los días de hospitalización y la mortalidad. Métodos: el estudio incluye pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Clínica Bíblica, en el periodo del 1 de septiembre de 2012 al 28 de febrero de 2013, a quienes se les administró al menos una dosis en forma I.V. de un antibiótico de amplio espectro. Se analizaron 392 expedientes. Se recopilaron los documentos e información necesaria de cada paciente, para el correspondiente análisis. Resultados: Medicina Interna y Medicina Intensiva fueron las especialidades médicas responsables de prescribir mayoritariamente este tipo de antibióticos. En un 68% de los casos, la primera dosis fue prescrita a pacientes hospitalizados, y en un 57% de las ocasiones se utilizaron otros antibióticos junto con el de amplio espectro. En un 52% de los casos analizados no se realizó un cultivo para la utilización de los antibióticos de amplio espectro. De los pacientes que usaron antibióticos de amplio espectro, una proporción que oscila entre un 15% y un 45% presentaba de previo algún historial de alergia a otro antibiótico. En un 36% de los casos, durante el internamiento hubo un cambio en la estrategia antibiótica establecida. Conclusión: existe la necesidad de desarrollar un protocolo de manejo de antibióticos de amplio espectro en el centro hospitalario, en el cual se detallen los criterios para la utilización de cada antibiótico, con el fin de normar su uso.

Background: Errors in prescribing broad spectrum antibiotics lead to problems of bacterial resistance, this has decreased the pharmacological options for treating patients, and increased hospitalization stay and mortality. Methods: This study included patients treated at the Clinica Biblica Hospital from September 1st, 2012 to February 28, 2013 that received at least one IV dose of a broad-spectrum antibiotic. A total of 392 clinical records were analyzed. The documents and information required for the analysis of each patient´s case was gathered. Results: Intensive Care Medicine and Internal Medicine were largely responsible for prescribing the antibiotics included in this study. In 68% of cases, the first dose was prescribed to hospitalized patients and in 57% of cases other antibiotics were used along with the broad spectrum ones. In 52% of the cases analyzed, a bacterial culture was not performed in order to justify the use of a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Regarding patients that used broad spectrum antibiotics, 15% to 45% had a prior history of allergy to other antibiotics. In 36% of cases the antibiotic strategy was modified during hospitalization. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a protocol to manage broad spectrum antibiotics in this hospital, in which the criteria to use each antibiotic is described in order to standardize such use.

Análisis de tiempos y movimientos en el proceso de contratación administrativa de medicamentos, en el Hospital México durante el año 2009 / Time and motion analysis for the process of public procurement of drugs in Mexico Hospital during 2009

Justificación y objetivo: Dentro de la población que atiende la Caja Costarricense del Seguro Social existe un grupo minoritario que posee necesidades excepcionales de determinados medicamentos debido a su condición clínica diferencial. Ante esta situación de importancia, a pesar que solo constituye la menor parte de los casos, la CCSS ofrece un sistema para adquirir los medicamentos tránsito y los que se encuentran fuera de la Lista Oficial de Medicamentos, LOM. Este proceso de adquisición conlleva una variedad de trámites de Contratación Administrativa, establecidos en la Ley, los cuales afectan la prescripción del medicamento al paciente. El presente estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la duración del proceso de contratación administrativa en las compras directas y licitaciones de medicamentos no LOM en el Hospital México durante el año 2009. Métodos: En esta investigación se revisó un 47.26 por ciento de la población total de expedientes de compra, que corresponden a 112 de las 237 compras directas y de licitación que aparecen registradas en el año 2009, según el Histórico de Compras 2009. Resultados y Conclusión: Se determinó que existe una alta variabilidad entre las diferentes compras, carteles de medicamentos, y entre los diferentes procesos que se llevan a cabo en cada uno de estos carteles. No existe una uniformidad en relación a los procesos de adquisición de medicamentos, lo cual dificulta el poder determinar los factores que obstaculizan este proceso.