Introducing a pharmacist-led transmural care program to reduce drug-related problems in orthogeriatric patients: a prospective interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Orthogeriatric patients have an increased risk for complications due to underlying comorbidities, chronic drug therapy and frequent treatment changes during hospitalization. The clinical pharmacist (CP) plays a key role in transmural communication concerning polypharmacy to improve continuity of care by the general practitioner (GP) after discharge. In this study, a pharmacist-led transmural care program, tailored to orthogeriatric patients, was evaluated to reduce drug related problems (DRPs) after discharge. METHODS: An interventional study was performed (pre-period: 1/10/2021-31/12/2021; post-period: 1/01/2022-31/03/2022). Patients (≥ 65 years) from the orthopedic department were included. The pre-group received usual care, the post-group received the pharmacist-led transmural care program. The DRP reduction rate one month after discharge was calculated. Associated factors for the DRP reduction rate were determined in a multiple linear regression analysis. The GP acceptance rate was determined for the proposed interventions, as well as their clinical impact using the Clinical, Economic and Organizational (CLEO) tool. Readmissions one month after discharge were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall, 127 patients were included (control n = 61, intervention n = 66). The DRP reduction rate was statistically significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The pharmacist's intervention was associated with an increased DRP reduction rate (+ 1.750, 95% confidence interval 1.222-2.278). In total, 141 interventions were suggested by the CP, of which 71% were accepted one month after discharge. In both periods, four patients were readmitted one month after discharge. 58% of the interventions had a clinical impact (≥ 2 C level using the CLEO-tool) according to the geriatrician and for the CP it was 45%, indicating that they had the potential to avoid patient harm. CONCLUSIONS: The pharmacist-led transmural care program significantly reduced DRPs in geriatric patients from the orthopedic department one month after discharge. The transmural communication with GPs resulted in a high acceptance rate of the proposed interventions.

Development and partial validation of Be-CLIPSS: a classification system for hospital clinical pharmacy activities.

BACKGROUND: Documentation of drug related problems (DRPs) and pharmaceutical interventions (PIs) is essential for an objective evaluation of the pharmacist's contribution to pharmacotherapy. However, in Belgium, a nationally used classification system is not available, prohibiting structured and uniform documentation of DRPs and PIs. AIM: To develop and validate a national classification system for in-hospital clinical pharmacy activities, based on literature and field experience, specifically intended for routine registration. METHOD: Based on a literature review, a survey among Belgian hospital pharmacists and a stakeholder focus group, a first version of Be-CLIPSS (Belgian CLInical Pharmacy claSsification System) was developed. Inter-rater reliability of the DRPs and PIs was assessed. Additionally, its usability was reviewed. The system was further refined, followed by a second validation. RESULTS: Both the survey and focus group discussion revealed little use of validated DRP and PI classification systems in Belgium, although these were considered highly desirable if practical and minimally time-consuming. The final classification system encompassed seven clinical pharmacy activities, grouped into four activity classes. The inter-rater reliability for the second activity class was substantial for the DRPs (κ = 0.737) and almost perfect for the PIs (κ = 0.872). The interpretability (86.4%), user-friendliness (61.4%), user satisfaction (84.1%), interest for use in daily practice (68.2%) and difficulty in correctly classifying the DRP and PI (31.8%) were assessed. CONCLUSION: Be-CLIPSS, a newly developed and partially validated classification system for DRPs and PIs, was found to be user-friendly, with a good interpretability and user satisfaction, resulting in a high interest for use in daily practice.

Immunosuppressive therapy management in cancer patients with autoimmune diseases treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: A case series and systematic literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Prescribing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) to cancer patients with an autoimmune disease (AID) is presumed safe when cautious adverse event management is applied. However, guidelines on immunosuppressant (IS) adaptations are limited and real-world evidence is scarce. METHODS: Current practice of IS adaptations is described in a case series of AID patients treated with ICIs in a tertiary university hospital in Belgium (1/1/2016-31/12/2021). Patient, drug and disease-related data were documented using retrospective chart review. A systematic search of the PubMed database was performed to identify similar cases (1/1/2010-30/11/2022). RESULTS: Sixteen patients were described in the case series (62% with active AID). Systemic IS were changed before ICI initiation in 5/9 patients. Four patients continued therapy, of which one achieved partial remission. Patients who had IS (partially) stopped before ICI start (n = 4) had AID flares in two cases; immune-related adverse events in three cases. In the systematic review, 37 cases were identified in 9 articles. Corticosteroids (n = 12) and non-selective IS (n = 27) were continued in, respectively, 66% and 68% of patients. Methotrexate was frequently discontinued (13/21). Biologicals, excluding tocilizumab and vedolizumab, were withheld during ICI treatment. Out of all patients with flares (n = 15), 47% had stopped IS therapy before ICI start and 53% had continued their AID drugs. CONCLUSIONS: A detailed overview of IS management in patients with AID receiving ICI therapy is presented. Expanding the knowledge base germane to IS management with ICI therapy in the diverse population is essential to evaluate their mutual impact, thus advancing responsible patient care.

Opioid Analgesics after Bariatric Surgery: A Scoping Review to Evaluate Physiological Risk Factors for Opioid-Related Harm.

The persisting use of opioids following bariatric surgery has emerged as a prevalent complication, heightening the probability of opioid-related harm (ORM), such as opioid-related fatalities and prescription opioid use disorder (OUD). A comprehensive review of PubMed literature from 1990 to 2023 was conducted to pinpoint physiological influences on postoperative ORM. As a result, we found that patients undertaking bariatric operations often exhibit an inherently higher risk for substance use disorders, likely attributable to genetic predisposition and related neurobiological changes that engender obesity and addiction-like tendencies. Furthermore, chronic pain is a common post-bariatric surgery complaint, and the surgical type impacts opioid needs, with increased long-term opioid use after surgeries. Additionally, the subjective nature of pain perception in patients with obesity can distort pain reporting and the corresponding opioid prescription both before and after surgery. Furthermore, the postoperative alterations to the gastrointestinal structure can affect the microbiome and opioid absorption rates, resulting in fluctuating systemic exposure to orally ingested opioids. The prospect of ORM development post-bariatric surgery appears amplified due to a preexisting susceptibility to addictive habits, surgically induced pain, modified gut-brain interaction and pain management and the changed pharmacokinetics post-surgery. Further research is warranted to clarify these potential risk variables for ORM, specifically OUD, in the bariatric population.

Using risk factors and markers to predict bacterial respiratory co-/superinfections in COVID-19 patients: is the antibiotic steward's toolbox full or empty?

BACKGROUND: Adequate diagnosis of bacterial respiratory tract co-/superinfection (bRTI) in coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients is challenging, as there is insufficient knowledge about the role of risk factors and (para)clinical parameters in the identification of bacterial co-/superinfection in the COVID-19 setting. Empirical antibiotic therapy is mainly based on COVID-19 severity and expert opinion, rather than on scientific evidence generated since the start of the pandemic. PURPOSE: We report the best available evidence regarding the predictive value of risk factors and (para)clinical markers in the diagnosis of bRTI in COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team identified different potential risk factors and (para)clinical predictors of bRTI in COVID-19 and formulated one or two research questions per topic. After a thorough literature search, research gaps were identified, and suggestions concerning further research were formulated. The quality of this narrative review was ensured by following the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles. RESULTS: Taking into account the scarcity of scientific evidence for markers and risk factors of bRTI in COVID-19 patients, to date, COVID-19 severity is the only parameter which can be associated with higher risk of developing bRTI. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence on the usefulness of risk factors and (para)clinical factors as predictors of bRTI in COVID-19 patients is scarce. Robust studies are needed to optimise antibiotic prescribing and stewardship activities in the context of COVID-19.

Development and validation of an audit tool for fluid management in non-critically ill adults in the emergency department.

Especially in the emergency department (ED), it is critical to identify weaknesses in prescribing behavior of IV maintenance fluids to ensure a qualitative 24-h fluid management plan. The primary aim of this study was to develop an audit instrument to assess the pitfalls in documentation and prescribing habits of IV fluid therapy for non-critically ill patients admitted to the ED. In this study, an expert panel initially designed the tool. During different phases, adaptations were made to optimize inter-rater agreement (Fleiss' kappa, κ) and validity was determined based on the application of the tool on randomly selected electronic ED patient records. Second, the IV fluid prescription's appropriateness was addressed. The final tool consists of three parts: fluid status assessment, evaluation of maintenance fluid needs and, if present, a limited appropriateness check of the fluid prescription. A manual enhanced inter-rater agreement. κ-values achieved the target value (0.40) after three adaptation rounds, except for the category of 'clinical observations' in the assessment part (κ = 0.531, 95% CI 0.528-0.534), which was acceptable. A check of the IV fluid's indication and volume was only possible with an additional expert evaluation to conclude on prescription appropriateness. Criterion related validity of the final version was high (93.4%). To conclude, the instrument is considered reliable and can be used in clinical practice to evaluate ED fluid management. Thorough documentation is essential to evaluate the appropriateness of the IV fluid prescription, to improve information transfer on IV fluid therapy to the ward and to facilitate retrospective chart review of ED prescribing behavior.

Hemadsorption: A New Therapeutic Option for Selected Cases of Bromazepam Intoxication.

Benzodiazepine ingestion is frequent in patients admitted to ICU for intoxications. Generally, a supportive approach by securing the airway, breathing, and circulation is sufficient. Flumazenil is a well-known antidote for benzodiazepines but does not influence its elimination. Following preclinical data, we applied for the first time in humans a hemadsorption filter in a patient with a bromazepam intoxication. This technique proved to be effective in eliminating bromazepam in a patient with CHILD-C cirrhosis. We conclude that hemadsorption is a viable option to reduce length of ICU stay or intubation in slow metabolizers without contraindications.

CONTACT-Patient-Centred Care Questionnaire to assess care for patients treated with oral anticancer drugs: Development and psychometric validation.

OBJECTIVE: Instruments to measure quality of patient-centred care (PCC) for the rapidly growing population of patients treated with oral anticancer drugs (OACD) are lacking. The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable instrument to assess PCC in the context of OACD. METHODS: The CONTACT-Patient-Centred Care Questionnaire (CONTACT-PCCQ) was developed based on a validated set of key elements (KEs) for patient-centred education and counselling in patients taking OACD, and face validity was evaluated by means of cognitive interviews. In 16 Belgian hospitals, adult patients treated with OACD were asked to complete the questionnaire. Construct validity was investigated through exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) and internal consistency of the subscales was examined using Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The initial 86-item instrument was completed by 464 patients. Each EFA confirmed the a priori PCC-based structure of the subscales. However, EFA revealed more than one factor for two of the subscales. Therefore, multiple subsections within these subscales were created. Based on factor loadings and item content, six items were removed. This resulted in a final 80-item instrument with seven subscales and five subsections. Cronbach's alpha for the subscales and subsections ranged between 0.732 and 0.918, which implies adequate internal consistency. CONCLUSION: A final instrument with 80 items divided into seven subscales, covering all six dimensions of PCC, was obtained. The CONTACT-PCCQ has acceptable psychometric properties, supporting its use as a measure to assess care experiences of patients treated with OACD.

Interdisciplinary knowledge gaps on intravenous fluid management in adult patients: Survey among physicians and nurses of a university hospital.

RATIONALE: Intravenous (IV) fluids are frequently involved in iatrogenic complications in hospitalized patients. Knowledge of IV fluids seems inadequate and is not covered sufficiently in standard medical education. METHODS: Two surveys were developed, based on the 2016 British National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline 'IV fluid therapy in adults in hospital', to provide insight on the learning needs and expectations of physicians and nurses. Each survey focused on profession-specific practice and consisted of three parts: demographics, knowledge questions and evaluation of current habits. Physicians and nurses practicing in a Belgian university hospital were invited to complete the survey electronically, respectively, in January and May 2018. RESULTS: A total of 103 physicians (19%) and 259 nurses (24%) participated. Although every indication for fluid therapy may require a specific fluid and electrolyte mixture, and hence, knowledge of their exact composition, most physicians and nurses did not know the composition of commonly prescribed solutions for IV infusion. Senior physicians did not score better than juniors did on questions concerning the daily needs of a nil-by-mouth patient. The availability of an IV fluid on the ward guides physicians to prescribe IV fluids (17%). Nurses (56%) feel they share responsibility in fluid management as they frequently intervene in urgent situations. More than half of participants (70% of physicians, 79% of nurses) indicated a need for additional information. CONCLUSIONS: A clear need for more structured information on IV fluids was identified. Both physicians and nurses struggle with fluid therapy. Continuing education on IV fluid management, emphasizing multidisciplinary collaboration, and monitoring evidence-based practice is essential to support the clinical decision process in daily practice.

Presumed Urinary Tract Infection in Patients Admitted with COVID-19: Are We Treating Too Much?

Despite the low rates of bacterial co-/superinfections in COVID-19 patients, antimicrobial drug use has been liberal since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the low specificity of markers of bacterial co-/superinfection in the COVID-19 setting, overdiagnosis and antimicrobial overprescription have become widespread. A quantitative and qualitative evaluation of urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnoses and antimicrobial drug prescriptions for UTI diagnoses was performed in patients admitted to the COVID-19 ward of a university hospital between 17 March and 2 November 2020. A team of infectious disease specialists performed an appropriateness evaluation for every diagnosis of UTI and every antimicrobial drug prescription covering a UTI. A driver analysis was performed to identify factors increasing the odds of UTI (over)diagnosis. A total of 622 patients were included. UTI was present in 13% of included admissions, and in 12%, antimicrobials were initiated for a UTI diagnosis (0.71 daily defined doses (DDDs)/admission; 22% were scored as 'appropriate'). An evaluation of UTI diagnoses by ID specialists revealed that of the 79 UTI diagnoses, 61% were classified as probable overdiagnosis related to the COVID-19 hospitalization. The following factors were associated with UTI overdiagnosis: physicians who are unfamiliar working in an internal medicine ward, urinary incontinence, mechanical ventilation and female sex. Antimicrobial stewardship teams should focus on diagnostic stewardship of UTIs, as UTI overdiagnosis seems to be highly prevalent in admitted COVID-19 patients.

Antibiotic Prescriptions Targeting Bacterial Respiratory Infections in Admitted Patients with COVID-19: A Prospective Observational Study.

INTRODUCTION: Although bacterial co- and superinfections are rarely present in patients with COVID-19, overall antibiotic prescribing in admitted patients is high. In order to counter antibiotic overprescribing, antibiotic stewardship teams need reliable data concerning antibiotic prescribing in admitted patients with COVID-19. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, we performed a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of antibiotic prescriptions in patients admitted to the COVID-19 ward of a 721-bed Belgian university hospital between 1 May and 2 November 2020. Data on demographics, clinical and microbiological parameters and antibiotic consumption were collected. Defined daily doses (DDD) were calculated for antibiotics prescribed in the context of a (presumed) bacterial respiratory tract infection and converted into two indicators: DDD/admission and DDD/100 hospital bed days. A team of infectious disease specialists performed an appropriateness evaluation for every prescription. A driver analysis was performed to identify factors increasing the odds of an antibiotic prescription in patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. RESULTS: Of 403 eligible participants with a suspected COVID-19 infection, 281 were included. In 13.8% of the 203 admissions with a COVID-19 confirmed diagnosis, antibiotics were initiated for a (presumed) bacterial respiratory tract co-/superinfection (0.86 DDD/admission; 8.92 DDD/100 bed days; 39.4% were scored as 'appropriate'). Five drivers of antibiotic prescribing were identified: history of cerebrovascular disease, high neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in male patients, age, elevated ferritin levels and the collection of respiratory samples for bacteriological analysis. CONCLUSION: In the studied population, the antibiotic consumption for a (presumed) bacterial respiratory tract co-/superinfection was low. In particular, the small total number of DDDs in patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis suggests thoughtful antibiotic use. However, antibiotic stewardship programmes remain crucial to counter unnecessary and inappropriate antibiotic use in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04544072).