Potential Impact of Race and Ethnicity on Pharmacy Residency Match Rate and Match Participation.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate if a correlation exists between a student's self-identified race or ethnicity and their rates of participating in the match or matching with a pharmacy residency. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included pharmacy graduates from 2016 through 2021 at two schools/colleges of pharmacy, a Historically Black College or University and a non-Historically Black College or University. The primary outcome was to compare the percentage of underrepresented minority (URM) students and non-URM students who successfully matched with a postgraduate year 1 pharmacy residency. The secondary outcomes compared rates of participation in the match and the effects of student-related factors that influenced match success and participation rates between URM students and non-URM students. RESULTS: Of the 900 included students, 273 participated in the match. The match rate among students participating in the match was 53.5% (146 of 273) with 50.3% (84 of 167) in the URM group compared to 58.5% (62 of 106) in the non-URM group (P = .186) successfully matching. Rates of match participation were lower for students identified as URM (26% vs 39.3%, P < .001). When adjusting for previously published predictors of match success, URM status did not significantly affect match rates or match participation. CONCLUSION: At two schools of pharmacy, URM students were less likely to participate in the match but just as likely to match to an American Society of Health-System Pharmacists residency in the univariable analysis. However, when adjusting for other characteristics, there was no difference in match participation or match success in students who self-identified as URM.

Comparison of Narrow-Versus Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics in Elderly Patients With Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

BACKGROUND: Little evidence is available regarding the choice of empiric antibiotic therapy in elderly patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The primary objective of this study is to compare the outcomes of elderly patients receiving broad- versus narrow-spectrum antibiotics during hospitalization for AECOPD. DESIGN: A multicenter, retrospective, cohort analysis was performed. Inpatients 65 years and older with a primary discharge diagnosis of AECOPD who received ≥48 hours of antibiotic therapy were included in the study population. Patients were compared based on the spectrum of their antibiotic therapy. Narrow-spectrum antibiotics included: azithromycin, doxycycline, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, or aminopenicillin. The primary outcome was a composite of mechanical ventilation 48 hours after admission, transfer to the intensive care unit 48 hours after admission, 30-day chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) readmission, and oxygen saturation less than 90% on room air or increased oxygen requirements from baseline 48 hours after admission. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-three patients were included in this analysis; 127 patients were included in the narrow-spectrum group, and 126 patients were included in the broad-spectrum group. Patient demographics and comorbid conditions were similarly distributed in each group. The incidence of the primary composite outcome occurred in 50 (39.3%) and 60 (47.6%) of patients in the narrow- and broad-spectrum groups, respectively (P = .19). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: No difference was found in the primary outcome in inpatients aged ≥65 years with AECOPD who received empiric broad-spectrum or narrow-spectrum antibiotics.