Interstitial nephritis with pembrolizumab: A case report and review.

INTRODUCTION: Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody approved for adult patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although immune related adverse events are considered to be well tolerated, complications may occur and discontinuation of the treatment could be required. CASE REPORT: A 62-year old patient diagnosed with advanced non-small cell lung cancer experienced a decline in the renal function after seven cycles with pembrolizumab.Management & outcome: After ruling out other common causes of interstitial nephritis, pembrolizumab was attributed as a cause of interstitial nephritis. At first, toxicity was managed with corticosteroids and closely monitoring the patient, but finally pembrolizumab had to be discontinued due to the kidney function did not recover. DISCUSSION: Renal and urinary disorders were reported in <3% of patients treated with pembrolizumab, being interstitial nephritis the most reported toxicity. The kidney damage can be a complication to consider in patients receiving pembrolizumab. Early identification of an increase in serum creatinine levels may help with prevention by establishing an effective treatment, although it may not mean a total recovery of kidney function.

Successful treatment of postsurgical meningitis caused by Bacillus cereus: a case report and literature review.

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming, gram-positive bacterium that is ubiquitous in the environment. Central nervous system involvement with B. cereus is rare. Despite aggressive treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and using them appropriately, the mortality is high. A 72-year-old patient suffered a central nervous system infection associated with postsurgical meningitis and was successfully treated with a novel antibiotic therapy. This study includes the first case report of postsurgical B. cereus meningitis in the last ten years. It provides a different line of treatment to the previous ones.

Análisis y mejora de la preparación y manipulación de medicamentos peligrosos orales en un Servicio de Farmacia Hospitalaria / Analysis and improvement of preparation and handling of hazardous oral drugs in a Hospital Pharmacy Department

OBJETIVOS: Identificar de forma detallada las actividades en las cuales la exposición al riesgo es mayor por fallo en el manejo del medicamento peligroso (MP) o las medidas de autoprotección, y valorar su reducción tras llevar a la práctica una sesión formativa. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional y prospectivo, realizado en un hospital general de especialidades. Durante dos meses se lleva a cabo mediante el método de observación directa, un análisis de la manipulación y reenvasado de medicamentos peligrosos orales por personal técnico. Este periodo se dividió en dos etapas, tomando como punto de inflexión una sesión formativa al personal de farmacia al que se le explicaron los nuevos circuitos de trabajo para el manejo seguro de los medicamentos peligrosos, los protocolos elaborados, se informó sobre el manejo de los equipos de protección individual, y se entregó la documentación comentada. Posteriormente, las manipulaciones inseguras se categorizaron según la documentación de referencia: NIOSH y INSHT. RESULTADOS: El número total de observaciones fue 181; 68 durante el primer periodo, de las cuales 11 (16,2%) correspondieron al reenvasado de MP orales. En todos los casos hubo una manipulación insegura.113 observaciones en el segundo periodo, de ellas 16 (14,1%) fueron de reenvasado de MP. La probabilidad de error fue del 81,3%. En todos los casos la mayor probabilidad de error se asoció al empleo de los equipos de protección individual. CONCLUSIONES: Mediante el método de la observación directa se han identificado los subprocesos donde es necesario incidir para disminuir el riesgo asociado al manejo de estos fármacos, que se han reducido parcialmente tras el empleo de una sesión formativa

OBJECTIVE: Detect in detail the activities which the exposure is greater due to failure in the use of the hazardous drugs or self-protection measures and assess their reduction after carrying out a training session. METHODS: Prospective and observational study in a general hospital of specialties. For two months to take place by direct observation, an analysis of handling and repackaging of hazardous oral drugs by a technical staff. This time was divided in two stages, taking a training session to pharmacy staff as a turning point, which explained the new system work, protocols developed, it was reported on the management of individual protection equipment and documentation was delivered. Later, the unsafe handling were categorised according the reference documentation: NIOSH and INSHT. RESULTS: The total number of observation was 181; 68 for the first time, which 11 (16,2%) accounted for the repackaging of hazardous oral drugs. In all cases there was a unsafe handling.113 observations in the second period, which 16 (14,1%) were repackaging of hazardous oral drugs. The probability of error was 81,3%. In all cases, the highest probability of error was associated with the use of personal protective equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Using the direct observation method, the sub-processes have been identified where it is necessary to reduce the risk associated with the management of these drugs, which have been partially reduced after the use of a formative session