Vancomycin in Pediatric Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: Dose Optimization Using Population Pharmacokinetic Approach.

BACKGROUND: An increase in Staphylococcus aureus infections has been reported in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) over the last few years. This pathogen is commonly treated with vancomycin, an antibiotic for which therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) is recommended. Updated guidelines were recently published regarding new targets of exposure for the TDM of vancomycin through a Bayesian approach, using population pharmacokinetic (popPK) models. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the predictive performance of vancomycin popPK models in pediatric patients with CF and to recommend optimal initial dosing regimens based on simulations. METHODS: Patient data were collected from two centers in Canada, and a literature review was conducted to identify all published vancomycin popPK models for pediatric CF patients. External evaluation and simulations were performed according to patient and occasion of treatment. RESULTS: A total of 53 vancomycin concentrations were collected from six pediatric CF patients. Only two popPK models of vancomycin for pediatric CF patients were identified through the literature review. The external evaluation results for both centers combined revealed a population bias of 28.1% and an imprecision of 33.7%. A re-estimation of parameters was performed to improve predictive performance. The optimal initial dosing regimen was 15 mg/kg/dose administered every 6 hours according to the per occasion remodel. CONCLUSION: The predictive performance and identified optimal initial dosing regimens associated with the model were different depending on the data used, showing external evaluation's importance before implementing a model in clinical practice.

Evaluation of Postoperative Efficacy and Safety of Celecoxib in Children Hospitalized After Adenotonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE: The choice of optimal analgesia following an adenotonsillectomy is a clinical issue because of the risk of respiratory depression and bleeding. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of celecoxib on opioid use and pain scores in children hospitalized after adenotonsillectomy and to document its adverse effects. METHODS: This retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary care pediatric hospital. We compared a group of subjects aged 1 to 17 years who were prescribed celecoxib and opioids between January 2017 and June 2020 following an adenotonsillectomy during a 3-day or less hospitalization to a group of matched controls for sex, age, and length of stay who were prescribed opioids. RESULTS: A total of 228 patients were identified (76 in the celecoxib + opioids group, 152 in the control group). Opioid use, in oral morphine equivalent daily dose, was lower in the celecoxib + opioids group at 0 to 24 hours of hospitalization (0.15 vs 0.20 mg/kg/day, p = 0.05). Initiating celecoxib within 24 hours of surgery (n = 60) significantly reduced opioid requirement for up to 48 hours compared with controls (0-24 hours: 0.12 vs 0.20 mg/kg/day, p = 0.002; 25-48 hours: 0.02 vs 0.09 mg/kg/day, p = 0.001). A shorter length of stay was observed for patients receiving celecoxib + opioids during the first 24-hour post--operative period (27 vs 32 hours, p = 0.01). With celecoxib use, no significant change in pain scores and occurrence of adverse effects including bleeding was found. CONCLUSIONS: Using celecoxib early after an adenotonsillectomy has reduced both opioid use and duration of hospital stay without increasing adverse effects or bleeding.

Thrombolysis of prosthetic mitral valve thrombosis in an infant.

A 7-week-old female developed thrombosis of a mechanical mitral valve and was successfully treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). The management of infants with thrombosed mechanical prosthesis is reviewed.

Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of human papillomavirus vaccine: a systematic review.

The recent approval of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine means that decision makers need information beyond that available from randomized clinical trials to recommend funding for this vaccination programme. Modelling and economic studies have addressed some of those information needs. We conducted a qualitative systematic review to summarize the existing data. Review articles were obtained from an extensive literature search on studies using mathematical modelling (either a Markov or transmission dynamic model) to determine the effectiveness or cost effectiveness of an HPV vaccine compared with the current cytology-based Pap smear screening programme. A total of 21 studies (but 22 models) were included in the review after being assessed for methodological quality. All of the included studies had used a mathematical model to determine the effectiveness of an HPV vaccine, whilst 13 had also conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis. Although the studies used different model structures, baseline parameters and assumptions, all studies showed that vaccination would decrease rates of HPV infection, precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. Studies had a consistent message with respect to cost effectiveness: a female-only vaccination programme is cost effective compared with the current cytology-based Pap smear screening programme, while the cost effectiveness of a male and female vaccination programme is generally not cost effective compared with female-only vaccination.

Healthcare utilization following cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia.

The aim of this study was to examine the overall changes in healthcare services utilization after providing an empirically supported cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Data on healthcare utilization were collected for a total of 84 adults meeting DSM-IV criteria. Participants were completers of a cognitive-behavioral treatment for panic disorder with agoraphobia. Data on utilization of healthcare services and medication were obtained from semi-structured interviews from baseline to 1-year after treatment. Results of the Friedman non-parametric analysis reveal a significant decrease in overall and mental health-related costs following treatment. This study shows a significant reduction in healthcare costs following cognitive behavior therapy for panic disorder with agoraphobia. More studies are needed to examine the potential long-term cost-offset effect of empirically supported treatments for panic disorder.