Hospital pharmacy response to COVID-19 at two UK teaching hospitals: a departmental review of actions implemented to inform future strategy.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the views of pharmacy staff on a departmental response to wave 1 of the UK COVID-19 pandemic in order to inform a strategy for a second wave at two large UK National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. METHODS: This study was undertaken at two large teaching hospitals in the UK. Pharmacy staff attended local departmental focus groups. Staff attendance included pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants representing all pharmacy services including aseptics, ward-based services, dispensary/distribution and procurement. Responses were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: A total of 138 pharmacy staff attended the departmental focus groups. This study identified which pharmacy-related changes implemented in the first wave will be beneficial to take forward into a second wave. These included extending the hours of the pharmacy service to critical care, retaining the competence of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians redeployed to critical care during wave 1, development of standard operating procedures for changes in practice, delivering/posting of dispensed outpatient medication to patients' place of residence, maintenance of ward-based pharmacy services, use of the healthcare app PANDO to aid team communication, utilisation of remote-controlled drug ordering, deployment of a COVID-19 ward stocklist, procurement of ready-made bags/prefilled syringes of critical care medications, aligning the central intravenous additive service with critical care demand to reduce waste and establishment of a pharmacy response in line with the hospital's implementation plan. CONCLUSIONS: This study has provided a number of recommendations for how hospital pharmacy departments may respond to a global pandemic. These experiences derived from the pharmacy departments at two large UK NHS Trusts may be used by other healthcare providers to help inform the pharmacy response to a global pandemic.

A Very Short Course of HBIg+NA Followed by Entecavir or Tenofovir Monotherapy Prevents HBV Recurrence in Low-Risk Liver Transplant Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Monoprophylaxis with third-generation nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) can be safely adopted in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-positive, liver transplantation (LT) patients after at least 6 months of HBV immunoglobulin (HBIg)+NA. We investigated the efficacy of earlier initiation of post-LT entecavir (ETV) or tenofovir (TDF) monoprophylaxis. METHODS: Between September 2011 and January 2017, all consecutive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive transplanted patients were scheduled to receive HBIg with ETV or TDF for a period related to the risk for HBV reinfection: 1. low-risk patients (HBeAg-negative and HBV DNA < 12 IU/mL before LT) were due to withdraw from HBIg once HBsAg had become negative after a minimum of 7 days of HBIg+NA; 2. high-risk patients were due to receive HBIg for at least 6 months, after which they continued with third-generation NA monotherapy, only. RESULTS: Twenty patients with a median interquartile range (IQR) follow-up of 46 (64-39) months were enrolled in the study (40% receiving ETV, 60% receiving TDF). Two low-risk patients refused early HBIg withdrawal and were therefore treated and analyzed along with the high-risk group. Eventually, there were 2 groups: group A, which included 12 low-risk patients, and group B, which included 8 patients (six high-risk, 2 low-risk). After transplantation, group A and B patients received HBIg+NA for a median (IQR) time of 7 (9-7) days and 9 (13-5) months, respectively. All 20 recipients demonstrated HBV DNA < 12 IU/mL and stable graft function during follow-up. Two patients (10%), 1 from each group, had HBsAg relapse. Notably, both patients who relapsed had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) diagnosed before LT and showed very low levels (< 0.25 IU/mL) of HBsAg after recurrence. CONCLUSION: In low-risk HBsAg-positive recipients, HBIg may be safely discontinued within 2 weeks of LT and replaced by ETV or TDF monotherapy.

Adult liver transplantation: A UK clinical guideline - part 1: pre-operation.

Liver transplantation is a highly successful treatment for all types of liver failure, some non-liver failure indications and liver cancer. Most referrals come from secondary care. This first part of a two-part guideline outlines who to refer, and how that referral should be made, including patient details and additional issues such as those relevant to alcohol and drug misuse. The process of liver transplant assessment involves the confirmation of the diagnosis and non-reversibility, an evaluation of comorbidities and exclusion of contraindications. Finally, those making it onto the waiting list require monitoring and optimising. Underpinning this process is a need for good communication between patient, their carers, secondary care and the liver transplant service, synchronised by the transplant coordinator. Managing expectation and balancing the uncertainty of organ availability against the inevitable progression of underlying liver disease requires sensitivity and honesty from all healthcare providers and the assessment of palliative care needs is an integral part of this process.

Adult liver transplantation: UK clinical guideline - part 2: surgery and post-operation.

Survival rates for patients following liver transplantation exceed 90% at 12 months and approach 70% at 10 years. Part 1 of this guideline has dealt with all aspects of liver transplantation up to the point of placement on the waiting list. Part 2 explains the organ allocation process, organ donation and organ type and how this influences the choice of recipient. After organ allocation, the transplant surgery and the critical early post-operative period are, of necessity, confined to the liver transplant unit. However, patients will eventually return to their referring secondary care centre with a requirement for ongoing supervision. Part 2 of this guideline concerns three key areas of post liver transplantation care for the non-transplant specialist: (1) overseeing immunosuppression, including interactions and adherence; (2) the transplanted organ and how to initiate investigation of organ dysfunction; and (3) careful oversight of other organ systems, including optimising renal function, cardiovascular health and the psychosocial impact. The crucial significance of this holistic approach becomes more obvious as time passes from the transplant, when patients should expect the responsibility for managing the increasing number of non-liver consequences to lie with primary and secondary care.

Prescribing in Chronic Severe Hepatic Impairment.

Therapeutic Reviews aim to provide essential independent information for health professionals about drugs used in palliative and hospice care. Additional content is available via www.palliativedrugs.com. The series editors welcome feedback on the articles.

Entecavir or tenofovir monotherapy prevents HBV recurrence in liver transplant recipients: A 5-year follow-up study after hepatitis B immunoglobulin withdrawal.

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that oral third-generation nucleos(t)ide analogs (NA) monoprophylaxis following hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) withdrawal may be effective to prevent HBV reinfection after liver transplantation (LT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 01/2010 and 03/2012, all HBV monoinfected and HBV/HDV co-infected LT patients followed in our centre withdrew HBIg ±â€¯NA and were commenced on either ETV or TDF as monotherapy. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients were included in the study (55% TDF, 45% ETV). Group A comprised 69 HBV monoinfected patients and Group B 8 HBV/HDV co-infected patients. After HBIg withdrawal, Groups A and B patients were followed for 69 (range 13-83) months and 61 (range 31-78) months, respectively. No Group B patients had HBsAg or HBV DNA recurrence, while 6 (9%) Group A patients became HBsAg-positive after a median of 18 (range 1-40) months. The cumulative 5-year incidence of HBsAg recurrence was 9%. All 6 patients demonstrated undetectable HBV-DNA levels and stable graft function during 30 months of additional follow-up. In 3/6 patients, seroconversion was transitory, while the remaining 3 showed HBsAg levels <0.13 IU/mL over the entire period of observation. Pre-LT HCC emerged as the strongest predictor of HBsAg recurrence. CONCLUSION: HBIG can be safely discontinued in HBsAgpositive LT recipients and replaced by ETV or TDF monotherapy.

Efficacy and Tolerability of Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C in Older Adults.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in individuals aged 65 and older. DESIGN: Retrospective review between June 2014 and January 2017. SETTING: Viral hepatitis outpatient clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals aged 65 and older treated with DAA therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) during the study period (N=113) divided into 2 cohorts: aged 65 to 74 (n=88) and aged 75 and older (n=25). MEASUREMENTS: Drug-drug interactions (DDIs), adverse events (AEs), and rates of sustained virologic response with DAA therapy were assessed. RESULTS: Sustained virologic response rate was 97.7% in individuals aged 65 to 74 and 95.8% in those aged 75 and older. Individuals aged 75 and older were more likely to be taking more than 2 medications per day for chronic conditions (84% vs 62%, p=.02) and more likely to have clinically significant DDIs necessitating cessation or adjustment of medications before commencement of DAA therapy (80% vs 36%, p=.001). Moreover, individuals aged 75 and older were more likely to experience an AE during therapy (50% vs 26%, p=.03) and were more susceptible to developing anemia secondary to ribavirin (60% vs 20%, p=.02). CONCLUSION: DAA therapy is highly efficacious for the treatment of HCV in older adults, but those aged 75 and older are more likely to have clinically significant pretreatment DDIs and experience AEs, including ribavirin-induced anemia, during therapy.

Immunological Predictors of Nonresponse to Directly Acting Antiviral Therapy in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C and Decompensated Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Sustained virological response rates (SVRs) to directly acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) are lower in decompensated cirrhosis. Markers of innate immunity predict nonresponse to interferon-based HCV treatment; however, whether they are associated with the response to DAAs in patients with decompensation is not known. METHODS: Information on demographics, adherence, viral kinetics, and resistance were gathered prospectively from a cohort with decompensated cirrhosis treated with 12 weeks of DAAs. C-X-C motif chemokine-10 (CXCL-10) level and T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell phenotype were analyzed pretreatment and at 4 and 12 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Of 32 patients, 24 of 32 (75%) achieved SVR (responders). Eight of 32 (25%) experienced relapse after the end of treatment (nonresponders). There were no differences in demographics or adherence between groups. Nonresponders had higher CXCL-10; 320 pg/mL (179461) vs 109 pg/mL (88170) in responders (P < .001) and differential CXCL-10 dynamics. Nonresponders had lower NK cell frequency, higher expression of activation receptor NKp30, and lower frequency of the NK subset CD56-CD16+. CONCLUSIONS: Nonresponders to DAAs displayed a different NK phenotype and CXCL-10 profile to responders. Nonresponders did not have poorer adherence or baseline virological resistance, and this shows that immunological parameters are associated with treatment response to interferon-free treatment for HCV in individuals with decompensated cirrhosis.

Performance of modified-release tacrolimus after conversion in liver transplant patients indicates potentially favorable outcomes in selected cohorts.

Clinical outcomes, dose changes, and dose-equalized tacrolimus concentrations were examined sequentially in 129 liver transplantation (LT) recipients after successful conversion to once daily modified-release tacrolimus either early (within 1 month) or late (>1 month) after LT. The data were compared with data for a group of 60 patients maintained on twice daily conventional-release tacrolimus. Formulation- and time-dependent changes in dose requirements for once and twice daily tacrolimus differed after transplantation. A 1.7-fold initial increase in the median daily dose was required to achieve target tacrolimus concentrations in the early-conversion cohort (P = 0.006), whereas a 1.25-fold increase was required for those converted later (P = 0.013 and P < 0.001 for the difference). In the subsequent 2 months, the median daily dose fell by 20% in the early-conversion cohort, remained stable for the late-conversion cohort, but rose by 33% with conventional therapy. Lower median dose-equalized concentrations persisted for up to 3 months after the conversion to modified-release therapy. Sex, ethnicity, and the underlying liver disease did not significantly affect these variables. The frequency of treated biopsy-proven acute rejection episodes fell approximately 4-fold after the conversion to modified-release tacrolimus, most notably in the late-conversion cohort, which experienced a high incidence of rejection before conversion. Posttransplant increases in serum creatinine concentrations were smaller after the introduction of modified-release tacrolimus in the late-conversion group (0.7 versus 4 mg/mL for twice daily tacrolimus over 6 months). Reduced interpatient variability in tacrolimus concentrations was evident in the early-conversion cohort versus the twice daily cohort. A decline in intrapatient variability accompanied the reduction in acute rejection in the late-conversion cohort. Our data highlight potential benefits for the rejection rate and renal function on conversion to once daily modified-release tacrolimus late after LT.

Subacute liver failure secondary to black cohosh leading to liver transplantation.

The use of herbal medications is increasing significantly in the UK and there is a perception that herbal preparations are without adverse effects. This case report highlights the potential risks of black cohosh, which is one of the most commonly used herbal products. This is a case report of a 60-year-old Caucasian lady who presented with subacute liver failure secondary to taking black cohosh. This was further confirmed by liver biopsy and she subsequently deteriorated and underwent liver transplantation. Available evidence supports an association between black cohosh and risk of hepatotoxicity. In current literature, there have only been four previously reported cases of hepatotoxicity associated with black cohosh, which required liver transplantation. We submit that our patient represents the fifth case. We recommend that patients taking this supplement should have close monitoring of their hepatic function, especially in the presence of other risk factors.