Daptomycin Plus Oxacillin for Persistent Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

BACKGROUND: The preferred antibiotic salvage regimen for persistent methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MSSAB) is unclear. Ertapenem with cefazolin or an antistaphylococcal penicillin has been primarily described, but identifying alternative carbapenem-sparing options may support antibiotic stewardship efforts and decrease the risk of antibiotic-associated Clostridioides difficile infection. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of daptomycin plus oxacillin (D/O) for persistent MSSAB. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective cohort of patients with persistent MSSAB who received D/O between January 1, 2014, and January 1, 2023. Adult patients were included if they had blood cultures positive for MSSA ≥72 hours and received D/O combination for ≥48 hours. Patients were excluded if they were pregnant, incarcerated, or received another antibiotic considered to have excellent activity against MSSA. The primary outcome was time to MSSA bacteremia clearance post-daptomycin initiation. Secondary outcomes included microbiological cure, hospital length of stay, 90-day all-cause mortality, MSSA bacteremia-related mortality, 90-day readmission for MSSAB, and incidence of antibiotic-associated adverse effects. Time to MSSAB clearance post-D/O initiation was plotted using Kaplan-Meier estimation. RESULTS: Seven unique patient encounters were identified including 4 with endocarditis. Despite a median MSSA bacteremia duration of 7.8 days, median clearance was 2 days post-daptomycin initiation. All achieved microbiological cure, and no adverse effects were reported. Ninety-day all-cause mortality, MSSAB-related mortality, and 90-day readmission for MSSAB occurred in 28.6%, 14.3%, and 14.3% of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: D/O was an effective, well-tolerated salvage regimen in this cohort and may represent a carbapenem-sparing option for persistent MSSAB.

Real-world evaluation of linezolid-associated serotonin toxicity with and without concurrent serotonergic agents.

BACKGROUND: The risk of linezolid-associated serotonin toxicity remains unclear. This study sought to evaluate the incidence of serotonin toxicity among hospitalized patients who received linezolid with or without concurrent serotonergic agents (SAs). Secondary outcomes were to assess the dose, agent selection and number of SAs. METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients aged ≥18 years who received at least one dose of linezolid with or without SAs between 1 January 2014 and 30 June 2021 was performed. Patients were excluded if they were aged <18 years, had linezolid ordered but not administered, were pregnant or were incarcerated. Up to five concurrent SAs were assessed, and dose category was classed as low, moderate or high (dose <33%, 33-66% or >66% of maximum daily dose, respectively). Serotonin toxicity was identified by searching patients' electronic medical records. If identified, the Sternbach criteria and Hunter criteria were applied. RESULTS: Of 2022 patients screened, 1743 were included in this study. Mean age, weight and linezolid duration were 58.5 years, 90.7 kg and 3.8 days, respectively. Approximately 67% (1168/1743) of patients received linezolid with at least one SA, and several patients received multiple SAs. Most patients (53.8%; 616/1144) received moderate- and/or high-dose SAs. Only two patients (0.11%) were identified as possible cases of serotonin toxicity based on the electronic medical record search. However, the incidence of serotonin toxicity was 0.06% (1/1743) based on the Sternbach criteria and 0% (0/1743) based on the Hunter criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Serotonin toxicity among hospitalized patients who received linezolid with or without SAs was exceedingly rare, even among those who received multiple and high-dose SAs.

Vancomycin plus ceftaroline for persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The preferred antibiotic salvage regimen for persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (MRSAB) is unclear. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vancomycin plus ceftaroline for persistent MRSAB. The primary outcome was time to MRSAB clearance post-ceftaroline initiation. Secondary outcomes included microbiological cure, hospital length of stay, 90-day readmission for MRSAB, 90-day all-cause mortality, MRSAB-related mortality, and incidence of antibiotic-associated adverse effects. DESIGN: Single-center, retrospective cohort study between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021. SETTING: State University of New York Upstate University Hospital, a 748-bed tertiary care, academic medical center in Syracuse, NY. PATIENTS: Adult patients were included if they had blood cultures positive for MRSA ≥72 h, received vancomycin monotherapy initially, and received vancomycin plus ceftaroline for ≥24 h. Patients were excluded if they received other anti-MRSA antibiotics, were pregnant, or were incarcerated. Of the 178 patients identified, 30 unique patients were evaluated. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were medically complex with a median Pitt bacteremia score of 3, 63.3% (19/30) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 66.7% (20/30) had infective endocarditis. Vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury was observed in 10% (3/30) of patients, which resulted in dose adjustments. No patients experienced ceftaroline-associated neutropenia or Clostridioides difficile infection, but 6.7% (2/30) developed a rash attributed to ceftaroline. Median time to MRSAB clearance post-ceftaroline initiation was 2.6 days. Microbiologic cure occurred in nearly all patients 96.7% (29/30). Median hospital length of stay was 19.5 days, and 6.7% (2/30) of patients had 90-day readmission for MRSAB. 90-day all-cause mortality and MRSAB-related mortality occurred in 26.7% (8/30) and 13.3% (4/30) of patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin plus ceftaroline may represent an effective and well-tolerated salvage regimen option for persistent MRSAB.

Pharmacy students' knowledge and confidence of COVID-19 following an interactive didactic class.

Background: COVID-19 education for the pharmacy workforce is important to ensure pharmacists are optimizing patient care for the prevention and management of COVID-19. However, there are currently no reports to our knowledge of education and training experiences for COVID-19 prevention and management in the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curricula. Objective: To evaluate pharmacy students' knowledge and confidence regarding COVID-19 prevention and management before and after an interactive didactic class (IDC). Methods: A multicenter, quasi-experimental, cross-sectional survey study was performed among pharmacy students before and after IDC on COVID-19 at two schools of pharmacy. The IDC on COVID-19 consisted of student-led presentations on a COVID-19 drug, an infectious disease pharmacist faculty-led interactive lecture on COVID-19 prevention and management, and clinical case vignettes to assess COVID-19 management strategies. An anonymous, voluntary, electronic survey was distributed to students (n = 85) before and after. The pre- and postintervention survey contained 10 COVID-19 knowledge-based questions and multi-step, 5-point Likert scale statements related to COVID-19 prevention and management confidence. The postintervention survey also evaluated students' perceptions of the COVID-19 IDC. Descriptive statistics were performed, and Student t test was used to compare pre- and postintervention responses. Results: About 61 surveys were completed resulting in a response rate of 72%. COVID-19 knowledge scores (mean ± SD) increased overall following the IDC (5.9 ± 1.31 vs 8.6 ± 1.29). Pharmacy students' COVID-19 confidence scores (mean ± SD) also improved following the IDC (2.66 ± 0.75 vs 4.03 ± 0.53). Students performed well on the COVID-19 clinical case vignettes with a mean ± SD score of 22.41 ± 0.46 out of 25. Pharmacy students' perceptions of the IDC on COVID-19 were also positive overall. Conclusion: Pharmacy students' knowledge and confidence of COVID-19 prevention and management improved following an IDC. This may be an effective strategy to provide COVID-19 education during the PharmD curricula.

Instruction and Simulation to Improve Pharmacy Students' Knowledge and Confidence Regarding Assessment of Penicillin Allergies.

Objective. To evaluate pharmacy students' knowledge of and confidence regarding penicillin allergy assessment and skin testing (PAAST) before and after a focused didactic instruction and simulation (FDIS).Methods. A multicenter, quasi-experimental, cross-sectional survey study was performed among pharmacy students before and after FDIS on PAAST at two schools of pharmacy. The FDIS on PAAST consisted of an infectious disease faculty-led seminar, student-led penicillin allergy counseling interviews, penicillin skin testing simulation, and case studies to assess penicillin allergy scenarios and management. An anonymous, voluntary, electronic survey was distributed to students (n=159) before and after the FDIS. The pre- and post-intervention survey contained 10 PAAST knowledge-based questions and multi-step, five-point Likert scale statements related to students' confidence in PAAST. The post-intervention survey also evaluated students' perceptions of the FDIS on PAAST. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the Student t test was used to compare pre- and post-intervention responses.Results. One hundred forty-three surveys were completed, resulting in a survey response rate of 90%. Students' PAAST knowledge scores (mean±SD) increased overall following the FDIS on PAAST (6.67±1.51 vs 7.81±1.39). Knowledge scores increased considerably for questions related to penicillin allergy consequences, cross-reactivity, and correct steps of PAAST. Pharmacy students' PAAST confidence scores (mean±SD) also improved following the interactive instruction and simulation (2.30±0.7 vs 3.22±0.67) with considerable confidence increases in penicillin skin testing. Pharmacy students' perceptions of the FDIS on PAAST were also positive overall.Conclusion. Pharmacy students' knowledge and confidence of PAAST improved following FDIS. This may be an effective strategy to implement PAAST education during pharmacy school.

Reducing Muslim/Arab stereotypes through evaluative conditioning.

This study replicated and extended Olson and Fazio (2006) by testing whether evaluative conditioning is a means to reduce negative stereotypes about Muslim and other Arab persons. Specifically, evaluative conditioning was hypothesized to lower implicit biases against Muslim and Arab persons. The FreeIAT was used to measure implicit biases. Participants in the evaluative conditioning group showed a significant lowering in implicit biases. Explicit measures of bias were not affected by the conditioning procedure.

Weight loss treatment and psychological well-being: a review and meta-analysis.

Research suggests that weight loss treatment generally benefits psychological well-being but these effects have never been quantitatively reviewed. A meta-analysis of 117 weight loss treatment tests showed that weight loss treatment was associated with lowered depression and increased self-esteem. Treatment type moderated treatment effects on depression and self-esteem. Actual weight loss moderated treatment effects on self-esteem but not depression; only treatments that produced actual weight loss predicted increased self-esteem whereas improvements in depression were independent of weight loss. The clinical implications of the findings and the possible causal relationships among weight, depression and self-esteem are discussed.