Olanzapine as a rescue antiemetic in hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting occurs in up to 80% of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment and is associated with a deterioration in quality of life. Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic antagonist blocking a variety of neurotransmitters in the nausea and vomiting pathophysiology. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study is to determine whether olanzapine is associated with improved breakthrough nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Secondary outcomes include number of documented emesis episodes, an evaluation of patient oral intake, and number of rescue antiemetic agents administered after olanzapine initiation. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort review examining the effects of olanzapine for the treatment of breakthrough nausea and vomiting following hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Patients undergoing autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant between January 2014 and October 2017 were included. RESULTS: A total of 150 patients were included in the study. Olanzapine use was associated with a complete response in 30% of patients for breakthrough chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (p < 0.0001). An improvement in nausea (p < 0.0001) and vomiting (p = 0.02) was also observed in patients. Olanzapine administration was associated with lower as needed antiemetic usage (p < 0.0001) as well as fewer emesis episodes (p < 0.0001) but had no effect on oral intake (p = 0.13). CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine was associated with significant improvements in breakthrough nausea and vomiting control while reducing the number of emesis episodes and required antiemetic doses in the hematopoietic stem cell transplant population. Olanzapine may be beneficial in optimizing antiemetic regimens for breakthrough chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting control in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Use of a beta-lactam graded challenge process for inpatients with self-reported penicillin allergies at an academic medical center.

Background: The Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASP) at Nebraska Medicine collaborated with a board-certified allergist to develop a penicillin allergy guidance document for treating inpatients with self-reported allergy. This guidance contains an algorithm for evaluating and safely challenging penicillin-allergic patients with beta-lactams without inpatient allergy consults being available. Methods: Following multi-disciplinary review, an order set for beta-lactam graded challenges (GC) was implemented in 2018. This contains recommended monitoring and detailed medication orders to challenge patients with various beta-lactam agents. Inpatient orders for GC from 3/2018-6/2022 were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate ordering characteristics, outcomes of the challenge, and whether documentation of the allergy history was updated. All beta-lactam challenges administered to inpatients were included, and descriptive statistics were performed. Results: Overall, 157 GC were administered; 13 with oral amoxicillin and 144 with intravenous (IV) beta-lactams. Ceftriaxone accounted for the most challenges (43%). All oral challenges were recommended by an Infectious Diseases consult service, as were a majority of IV challenges (60%). Less than one in five were administered in an ICU (19%). Almost all (n = 150, 96%) were tolerated without any adverse event. There was one reaction (1%) of hives and six (4%) involving a rash, none of which had persistent effects. Allergy information was updated in the electronic health record after 92% of the challenges. Conclusion: Both intravenous and oral beta-lactam graded challenges were implemented successfully in a hospital without a regular inpatient allergy consult service. They were well-tolerated, administered primarily in non-ICU settings, and were often ordered by non-specialist services. In patients with a self-reported penicillin allergy, these results demonstrate the utility and safety of a broadly adopted beta-lactam GC process.