Temporal Association between Influenza Vaccination Coverage and Ambulatory Antibiotic Use in Children.

In this population-based retrospective cohort study, increased influenza vaccination coverage was temporally associated with a reduction in ambulatory antibiotic use in children. After adjustment for yearly vaccine effectiveness, antibiotic prescription rate declined by 3/1000 person-months for each 1% increase in influenza vaccination coverage between 2012 and 2017 in South Carolina (P < 0.001).

Use of continuous infusion ceftolozane-tazobactam with therapeutic drug monitoring in a patient with cystic fibrosis.

PURPOSE: The safe and effective use of ceftolozane-tazobactam delivered via continuous infusion in a cystic fibrosis (CF) patient with reduced body weight and presumed augmented renal clearance is reported. SUMMARY: A 30-year-old woman with CF was admitted for acute pulmonary exacerbations with positive respiratory cultures for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli. Susceptibility testing confirmed multidrug resistance, and the patient was transitioned to ceftolozane-tazobactam for definitive therapy. A novel strategy of administering ceftolozane-tazobactam 6 g by continuous i.v. infusion over 24 hours was initiated during hospitalization and continued at discharge for a total of 10 days. Therapeutic drug monitoring over the first 36 hours of the continuous infusion confirmed adequate exposure. The patient had clinical resolution with return to baseline of pulmonary function tests and no noted adverse drug events. CONCLUSION: A continuous infusion regimen of ceftolozane-tazobactam was successfully used in a CF patient with augmented renal clearance.

A practical guide for pharmacists to successfully implement penicillin allergy skin testing.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to offer practical guidance for pharmacists to successfully implement penicillin allergy skin testing (PAST). SUMMARY: Less than 10% of patients labeled as having a penicillin allergy are confirmed as present upon skin testing. This labeling results in use of alternative antibiotics and thus unwanted adverse consequences including potentiated antimicrobial resistance, increased costs, and worse clinical outcomes. Stewardship guidelines recommend PAST to enhance use of first-line agents; however, this was a weak recommendation with low-quality evidence. Recent efforts and subsequent research since publication of guidelines have demonstrated beneficial effects from increasing use of PAST among stewardship programs to improve outcomes. A number of different models exist demonstrating successful implementation of PAST at various healthcare facilities. There are important logistical factors to consider during implementation of PAST such as target population, optimal preparation, leadership structure, resource availability, and state regulations. Pharmacists as leaders of antimicrobial stewardship teams and experts in drug allergies are a natural fit to help implement PAST in healthcare settings to improve overall outcomes. This article offers guidance to institutions considering implementation of PAST. CONCLUSION: PAST is rapidly becoming an effective, long-term antimicrobial stewardship tool to optimize antimicrobial prescribing in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. Pharmacists have demonstrated significant benefit as providers of PAST services in a variety of healthcare settings with a number of different healthcare professionals.