RESUMEN
In Japan, pivoxil-conjugated antibodies (PVs) are commonly used to treat infections. However, carnitine deficiency is a known adverse drug reaction associated with PV treatment. This study aimed to research the practical use of PV and assess the risk of carnitine deficiency in patients receiving PV compared to their amoxicillin (AM)-treated counterparts. The Pediatric Medical Information Collection System (P-MICS) served as the data source for this study. The study cohort comprised patients aged 0-15 years prescribed PV between April 2016 and March 2021. Data on the actual PV prescriptions were extracted for each patient. To evaluate the risk of carnitine deficiency, adverse events (AEs) were defined as carnitine deficiency and its associated symptoms. Propensity score matching was employed to compare the AE incidence between the PV and AM groups. The number of cases of PV prescriptions decreased year-on-year between 2016 and 2021, and >80% of prescriptions were dispensed in the clinic. The propensity score matching analysis demonstrated no statistically significant difference in the incidence of carnitine deficiency and its associated symptoms between the PV and AM groups. Our findings suggest that the risk of carnitine deficiency in children treated with PV is not significantly higher than that associated with other antibiotics.
RESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: All guidelines necessitate wearing personal protective equipment during dispensing of oral anticancer drugs. This study aims to measure the degree of contamination on the press-through-package strips of oral anticancer drugs in Japan. METHOD: Surface contamination of the external packaging of anticancer drugs was examined by performing wipe tests at four hospitals and two community pharmacies. The following commercially available drugs were examined: Xeloda®, TS-1®, and methotrexate tablets and SA-1® and Rheumatrex® capsules. RESULTS: The wipe tests' results revealed that the contamination levels of Xeloda® and TS-1® tablets and SA-1® capsules were within their detection limits. In some facilities, the contamination levels on the press-through-package strips of Rheumatrex® capsules were 3.27 × 10-1, which is close to its detection limit. However, across all facilities, the contamination level of methotrexate tablets was above its detection limit. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that adherence to oral anticancer drugs may not occur during manufacture or transportation. However, it may be due to the presence of pollutants in the facilities. Prevention of pollution in facilities might eliminate the need to wear personal protective equipment during dispensing of oral anticancer drugs.
