Secular trends in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI): relationship with alcohol gel and antimicrobial usage in a hospital.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has shown increasing incidence, morbidity, and mortality in recent years. We assessed the number of CDAD tests requested, CDAD positivity rates, the use of alcohol-based hand rubs, and antimicrobial utilization. METHODS: We collected information on every adult patient (>18 years) who developed diarrhea and had a positive stool test for C. difficile toxin from June 2005 to December 2009 at a tertiary care hospital. A time-series analysis was performed using monthly data on the incidence of C. difficile infection (CDI) (i.e., cases of infection per 1000 patient-days), as well as the consumption of alcohol-based hand rubs (in liters/1000-patient days) and antibiotics (in defined daily doses per 1000 patient-days). RESULTS: The mean number of annual requests for C. difficile tests was 1031, and the rates per 1000 patient-days for each year from 2005 to 2009 were 0.30, 0.46, 0.39, 0.31, and 0.40 overall in the hospital, and 0.18, 0.10, 0.53, 0.38, and 0.37 in the intensive care unit (ICU). The use of alcohol-based hand rubs per 1000 patient-days increased from 37.4 to 73.0, and from 41.5 to 129.4 in the hospital and in the ICU, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CDI in the hospital and ICU remained low, despite the increased use of alcohol-based hand rubs and antimicrobials.

Implantação e evolução da farmácia clínica no uso racional de medicamentos em hospital terciário de grande porte / Implementation and progress of clinical pharmacy in the rational medication use in a large tertiary hospital

Objective: To show developments and contributions of a clinical pharmacy service in safety and rational use of medications in a large tertiary hospital. Methods: Clinical pharmacists were responsible for all issues using medications at the hospital. In the beginning this professional was responsible for analyzing medical prescriptions, horizontal visits, and to set up protocols. Afterwards, other activities were designated such as monitoring for drug safety, participating in committees and managed routines. If problems were found, the pharmacist reported them for the physician and, after intervention, registered the management on the prescription or in medical records. The data collected were presented as reports to medical managers. Results: There was an increase of clinical pharmacist employed in 2010, reaching 22 individuals. Interventions types also increased from 1,706 in 2003 to 30,727 in 2010. The adhesion observed in medical team in 2003 was 93.4%, reaching 99.5% of adhesion in 2010. Conclusion: Clinical pharmacy service shows a positive impact when it comes to performed interventions. It also promotes a rational use of medicines and increase patient safety. Pharmacists were included and their importance confirmed within the multidisciplinary team and in the process of patient safety.

Objetivo: Demonstrar o desenvolvimento e a contribuição da farmácia clínica no uso seguro e racional de medicamentos em hospital terciário de grande porte. Métodos: O trabalho envolveu a participação do farmacêutico clínico em todas as questões relacionadas ao uso de medicamentos no hospital. No início, estava relacionado à análise da prescrição médica, visita horizontal e implantação de protocolos. Posteriormente, outras atividades foram incorporadas como: farmacovigilância, participação em comissões e rotinas gerenciadas. Após a identificação do problema relacionado ao medicamento, o farmacêutico contatava o médico e, após a intervenção, registrava a conduta na prescrição e ou no prontuário do paciente. Os dados eram apresentados em forma de relatórios e divulgados para a gerência médica. Resultados: Houve aumento no número de farmacêuticos clínicos, chegando a 22 em 2010. Houve também aumento dos tipos e de número de intervenções realizadas (de 1.706 em 2003 para 30.727 em 2010) e observamos 93,4% de adesão pela equipe médica em 2003, chegando a 99,5% em 2010. Conclusões: A farmácia clínica demonstrou impacto positivo em relação ao número de intervenções realizadas, promovendo uso racional de medicamentos e aumento da segurança do paciente. O farmacêutico foi inserido e garantiu seu espaço junto à equipe multidisciplinar e no processo de segurança do paciente dentro da instituição.

Implementation and progress of clinical pharmacy in the rational medication use in a large tertiary hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To show developments and contributions of a clinical pharmacy service in safety and rational use of medications in a large tertiary hospital. METHODS: Clinical pharmacists were responsible for all issues using medications at the hospital. In the beginning this professional was responsible for analyzing medical prescriptions, horizontal visits, and to set up protocols. Afterwards, other activities were designated such as monitoring for drug safety, participating in committees and managed routines. If problems were found, the pharmacist reported them for the physician and, after intervention, registered the management on the prescription or in medical records. The data collected were presented as reports to medical managers. RESULTS: There was an increase of clinical pharmacist employed in 2010, reaching 22 individuals. Interventions types also increased from 1,706 in 2003 to 30,727 in 2010. The adhesion observed in medical team in 2003 was 93.4%, reaching 99.5% of adhesion in 2010. CONCLUSION: Clinical pharmacy service shows a positive impact when it comes to performed interventions. It also promotes a rational use of medicines and increase patient safety. Pharmacists were included and their importance confirmed within the multidisciplinary team and in the process of patient safety.

Pharmacy contribution to the prescription and rational use of human albumin at a large hospital / Contribuição da farmácia na prescrição e uso racional de albumina humana em um hospital de grande porte

Objective: The purpose of this survey was to reduce the use of human albumin 20% in non-supported indications at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Methods: During a 30-day period, in December 2006, a preliminary prospective analysis of medical prescriptions of human albumin 20% and therapeutic indications according to ANVISA RDC 115 guidelines was performed. Based on this analysis, a project was developed. In January 2007, a daily routine to follow up albumin prescriptions by the Hospital pharmacists was established. Results: From January to October 2007, 14,799 vials of albumin 20% were used, out of which 4,191 had non-supported indications, resulting in a R$ 1.36 million loss. In 2008 (from January to October), 13,519 vials of albumin 20% were prescribed, and 1,648 of them had non-supported indications, causing a R$ 535 thousand loss. The ratio between loss risk and consumed amount was 91.99 between January and October 2007. During the same period in 2008, this ratio was 39.60. Between January and October 2007, the average percentage of albumin prescribed for non-supported indications was 28%, whereas this percentage dropped to 13%, i.e., a decrease by 54%, during the same period of 2008. Conclusions: The inclusion of a pharmacist in the process of verifying medicine indications and justification of use was translated into safer processes to patients, ensuring that they received the correct medication for the correct indication, therefore reducing the chance of adverse events and contributing to reduce red-tape procedures and unnecessary expenditures by the institution.

Objetivo: O trabalho teve como objetivo a redução da utilização de albumina humana 20% com indicação não-fundamentada no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. Métodos: Durante um período de 30 dias (dezembro, 2006), foi realizada uma análise prospectiva preliminar utilizando-se as prescrições médicas de pacientes com Albumina humana, e avaliaram-se as indicações terapêuticas em relação às diretrizes estabelecidas pela resolução ANVISA RDC 115. A partir dessas informações, foi elaborado um projeto de atuação e foi instituída uma rotina de acompanhamento diário das prescrições pelos farmacêuticos a partir de Janeiro de 2007. Resultados: De Janeiro a Outubro de 2007, foram consumidos 14.799 frascos de albumina 20%. Destes, 4.191 com indicação não fundamentada, correspondendo a uma perda de R$ 1,36 milhões. Em 2008 (de janeiro a outubro), foram prescritos 13.519 frascos de albumina 20%. Destes, 1.648 com indicação não fundamentada, o que responde por uma perda de R$ 535 mil. A relação entre o risco da perda e quantidade consumida de janeiro a outubro de 2007 foi de 91,99. Já no mesmo período de 2008 foi de 39,60. De janeiro a outubro de 2007, a média do percentual de albumina prescrita com indicação não-fundamentada foi de 28%. No mesmo período em 2008, este percentual caiu para 13%. Uma redução de 54%. Conclusões: O envolvimento do Farmacêutico no processo de verificação da indicação e justificativa do uso do medicamento representa processos seguros ao paciente, garantindo que ele receba o medicamento certo para a indicação correta, reduzindo com isto a probabilidade de eventos adversos e contribuindo para diminuir burocracias e gastos desnecessários na instituição.

Pharmacy contribution to the prescription and rational use of human albumin at a large hospital.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this survey was to reduce the use of human albumin 20% in non-supported indications at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. METHODS: During a 30-day period, in December 2006, a preliminary prospective analysis of medical prescriptions of human albumin 20% and therapeutic indications according to ANVISA RDC 115 guidelines was performed. Based on this analysis, a project was developed. In January 2007, a daily routine to follow up albumin prescriptions by the Hospital pharmacists was established. RESULTS: From January to October 2007, 14,799 vials of albumin 20% were used, out of which 4,191 had non-supported indications, resulting in a R$ 1.36 million loss. In 2008 (from January to October), 13,519 vials of albumin 20% were prescribed, and 1,648 of them had non-supported indications, causing a R$ 535 thousand loss. The ratio between loss risk and consumed amount was 91.99 between January and October 2007. During the same period in 2008, this ratio was 39.60. Between January and October 2007, the average percentage of albumin prescribed for non-supported indications was 28%, whereas this percentage dropped to 13%, i.e., a decrease by 54%, during the same period of 2008. CONCLUSIONS: The inclusion of a pharmacist in the process of verifying medicine indications and justification of use was translated into safer processes to patients, ensuring that they received the correct medication for the correct indication, therefore reducing the chance of adverse events and contributing to reduce red-tape procedures and unnecessary expenditures by the institution.

Prevalência e classificação de interações entre medicamentos dispensadospara pacientes em terapia intensiva / Prevalence and classification of drug-drug interactions in intensive care patients

Objetivo: Identificar, quantificar e classificar as interaçõesmedicamentosas entre os medicamentos mais dispensados na UTIde adultos de um hospital privado, de grande porte e de atendimentoterciário no período de 30 dias. Métodos: Coleta em base de dadoseletrônica do consumo e de interações medicamentosas referentesà dispensação dos 50 medicamento mais utilizados. Resultados:No período estudado foram dispensadas 395 marcas comerciais,representando 258 princípios ativos, classificados em 10 grandesgrupos e 36 subgrupos segundo a Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical. Foram identificadas 409 interações medicamentosas, 174 de gravidadealta e 235 de gravidade moderada. As interações medicamentosasforam classificadas como farmacocinética (30%), neurológica (22%),cardiológica (18%) que somadas chegam a 70% das interaçõesmedicamentosas rastreadas por meio da base de dados eletrônicaMicromedex Healthcare Series®. As demais interações classificadascomo hematológica, renal, endócrino-metabólica, respiratória, muscular,gastrointestinal, hepática e outras detiveram os 30% restantes.Conclusão: As interações medicamentosas são muito comuns naUTI. Elas podem potencialmente produzir grande impacto econômicoe clínico. A utilização de sistemas eletrônicos informatizados permitemelhor abordagem da prescrição médica possibilitando prevenir eintervir sobre interações prejudiciais e eventos adversos mesmo antesda administração dos medicamentos.