Evaluating Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treatment duration in hematology/oncology patients receiving concurrent non-CDI antibiotics.

PURPOSE: To determine the impact of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) treatment duration on CDI recurrence in hematology/oncology patients receiving concurrent non-CDI antibiotics. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multi-site, retrospective study examined hematology/oncology patients age ≥18 years hospitalized with active CDI who received ≥1 dose of concurrent non-CDI antibiotics between September 2013 and June 2019. All patients were classified by two definitions for statistical analysis: standard (10-14 days) versus prolonged (>14 days) duration of CDI treatment and non-extended (≤24 hours after stopping non-CDI antibiotics) versus extended (>24 hours after stopping non-CDI antibiotics) CDI treatment. Primary outcome was CDI recurrence within 180 days of completing CDI treatment. Secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS) as well as mortality and incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) infections at 180 days. RESULTS: Of the 198 patients included, 112 were classified as prolonged versus 86 standard duration and 138 were classified as extended versus 60 non-extended duration. After accounting for demographic differences, no difference existed in the primary outcome of CDI recurrence in either prolonged versus standard or extended versus non-extended analysis (all p > 0.05). Patients who received prolonged versus standard CDI treatment had longer LOS (p < 0.0001) while no difference existed in extended versus non-extended (p > 0.05). No difference in mortality existed in prolonged versus standard (p > 0.05) while those who received extended versus non-extended CDI treatment had significantly lower mortality (p = 0.0008). CONCLUSIONS: Neither prolonging CDI treatment beyond standard duration nor extending duration beyond end of non-CDI antibiotics was associated with decreased CDI recurrence rate.

Low Prevalence of Thrombosis Prophylaxis Dose Adjustments Highlights Implications for Patient Safety.

Background: Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis (PTP) is the mainstay prevention strategy for venous thromboembolism (VTE). PTP agents traditionally dosed, like unfractionated heparin (UFH) and enoxaparin (ENOX), are associated with failure and bleeding in obese and underweight patients, respectively. Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of unadjusted ENOX and UFH dosing for PTP based on anthropometric measures. Patients/Methods:This was a post-hoc, multicenter, cross-sectional analysis of critically ill adults receiving PTP with ENOX or UFH. The primary outcome was the prevalence of unadjusted PTP based on body mass index (BMI) and total body weight (TBW). Definitions for dose adjustments were developed based on existing literature. A secondary outcome was to identify factors associated with unadjusted dosing per BMI and TBW using multivariable generalized linear mixed-effect models. Results: The nested cohort included 172 patients (ENOX=46, UFH=126). Unadjusted PTP was observed in 118 patients (68.6%) based on BMI and 74 (43%) per TBW. When comparing UFH to ENOX, more patients who received UFH had doses unadjusted by BMI (78.6% vs. 41.3%, p<0.05) but not TBW (43.7% vs. 41.3%). Factors independently associated with unadjusted PTP per BMI were receipt of UFH (OR 6.93, 95% CI 1.06-8.77) or a BMI underweight or overweight/obese (OR 10.45, 95% CI 4.38-24.92). Having a TBW <50kg or >100kg (OR 4.85, 95% CI 2.15-10.96) were independently associated with unadjusted PTP based on TBW. Conclusions: Unadjusted dosing of PTP occurs frequently in critically ill adults receiving ENOX or UFH. This was seen in body size extremes by both BMI and TBW.

Countermeasures to Coronavirus Disease 2019: Are Immunomodulators Rational Treatment Options-A Critical Review of the Evidence.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is associated with higher concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines that lead to lung damage, respiratory failure, and resultant increased mortality. Immunomodulatory therapy has the potential to inhibit cytokines and quell the immune dysregulation. Controversial data found improved oxygenation after treatment with tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 inhibitor, sparking a wave of interest and resultant clinical trials evaluating immunomodulatory therapies. The purpose of this article is to assess potential proinflammatory targets and review the safety and efficacy of immunomodulatory therapies in managing patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with coronavirus disease 2019.