Radiological findings in poisoning by synthetic cannabinoids adulterated with brodifacoum.

OBJECTIVES: Severe coagulopathy due to consumption of synthetic cannabinoids adulterated with brodifacoum, a long-acting anticoagulant, is an emerging worldwide hazard. Here, we review the spectrum of imaging findings in adulterated cannabinoid poisoning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, we used the Israeli Poison Information Center database to identify patients with cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy who presented to the Rambam Health Care Campus, where most patients were treated during an outbreak in northern Israel between September 2021 and June 2022. All relevant imaging studies for these patients were reviewed. We estimated the sensitivity of findings for cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy. Associations between a continuous variable and a dichotomous outcome were assessed with the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: We identified 48 patients (mean age 40 years ± 9 [SD], 43 males) with 54 hospitalizations due to cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy. Symptomatic hemorrhage was documented in 50 (93%) cases at presentation, most of whom (78%) had hemorrhage from multiple systems. The most common bleeding site was the genitourinary collecting system, with a characteristic sign of suburothelial bleeding in 16/18 of performed abdominal CTs (sensitivity 89% [CI 65-99%] for cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy). Intramural bowel hematomas were noted in 70% (7/10) of CTs of patients with gastrointestinal bleeding. Incidental bleeding sites were identified on imaging in 24% of patients. An increased number of bleeding sites was associated with need for vasopressors (difference in bleeding sites 3.00 [95% CI 0.99-4.00], p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: CT plays a key role in the diagnosis and work-up of adulterated cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy. Characteristic signs include suburothelial hemorrhage and intramural bowel hematomas. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Recognition of radiological signs of adulterated synthetic cannabinoid-associated coagulopathy is critical for optimizing outbreak control on the public health level and ensuring timely treatment on the individual patient level. KEY POINTS: • Severe coagulopathy due to consumption of synthetic cannabinoids adulterated with brodifacoum, a long-acting anticoagulant, is an emerging worldwide threat. • Characteristic imaging signs include suburothelial bleeding, intramural bowel hematomas, and rare incidental bleeding sites. • Imaging has a pivotal role in optimizing outbreak control and ensuring timely and appropriate treatment.

An outbreak of severe coagulopathy in northern Israel among users of illicit synthetic cannabinoids adulterated with brodifacoum.

INTRODUCTION: Adulteration of illicit drugs is a well-known phenomenon that may expose consumers to unexpected adverse effects. We report a large outbreak of severe coagulopathy in northern Israel during nine months in 2021-2022 among users of synthetic cannabinoids adulterated with a long-acting anticoagulant, brodifacoum. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study based on data extracted from the Israeli National Poison Information Center database and from electronic medical patient records at three participating hospitals. Confiscated drug samples and blood samples obtained at admission in a subgroup of patients were tested for the presence of long-acting anticoagulants. RESULTS: We identified 98 patients affected by the outbreak. All patients had a prolonged international normalized ratio on admission, and in 69%, the blood was non-coagulating. For patients treated in the three participating centers (n = 72), the presenting complaint was overt bleeding in 79% of patients, most commonly in the urinary (53%) and gastrointestinal tracts (50%). The most severe complications were intracranial bleeding (4%), hemothorax (3%), pericardial bleeding (1%), and four patients died. Brodifacoum was detected in all available blood samples (median concentration 207 µg/L, interquartile range 112-349 µg/L, range 45-1,118 µg/L), and the drug samples contained both brodifacoum and the synthetic cannabinoid ADB-BUTINACA. All patients were treated with high-dose phytomenadione (vitamin K1) and additionally by packed red blood cell transfusions, fresh frozen plasma, and/or 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate when indicated. The most frequent phytomenadione (vitamin K1) dose regimen was initially 20 mg intravenously every eight hours, and at discharge, 20 mg orally three times daily. CONCLUSIONS: Outbreaks of severe coagulopathies in users of synthetic cannabinoids adulterated with a long-acting anticoagulant continue to erupt in different regions of the world. Rapid recognition of an outbreak requires a high index of suspicion when confronting young, otherwise healthy subjects with otherwise unexplained severe coagulopathy.

Effects of imatinib on glycemic and lipid profiles: a retrospective cohort study.

Despite a favorable effect of imatinib on glucose metabolism in animal models, human reports are inconsistent. We retrospectively studied the long-term effect of imatinib on fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL), and triglycerides (TGs) in a large HMO cohort of patients initiating therapy. In patients with diabetes (n = 118), significant reductions in HbA1c (0.53%, IQR 0.09, 1.19; p < .001) and FPG (10.2 mg/dL, IQR -3.5, 32.2; p < .001), independent of demographics and of glucose-lowering drugs utilization, were observed during the first year of imatinib treatment. Significant reductions in LDL (17.8 mg/dL, IQR -1.3, 34.0; p < .001) and TG (25.0 mg/dL, IQR -2.3, 58.3; p < .001), also independent of demographics and of statin utilization, were evident in the entire cohort (n = 611) during the first imatinib year. All reductions persisted during the second treatment year. To conclude, imatinib is associated with durable metabolic benefits, which may guide TKI choice in patients with cardiovascular co-morbidities.

Individual Meropenem Clearance in Infants on ECMO and CVVHDF is Difficult to Predict: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVES: Meropenem is a broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotic with mostly renal excretion. Conflicting data are available regarding meropenem pharmacokinetics in critically ill neonates on concomitant continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and/or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Our objectives were to assess meropenem clearance in a neonate on CRRT and ECMO, compare it to previously published data and assess whether dose recommendations can be generalized in this population. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 2.5 kg male infant with a large diaphragmatic hernia was delivered by cesarean section at week 35 and immediately mechanically ventilated due to shock and respiratory insufficiency. He underwent surgical correction of the hernia, but developed recurrent sepsis, multiorgan failure and pulmonary hypertension. He remained mechanically ventilated and required ECMO and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. He was started on meropenem 40 mg/kg/dose, every 8 hs for Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia and sepsis, but due to lack of clinical and microbiologic response despite in vitro susceptibility, he was started on a continuous meropenem infusion of 240 mg/kg/d, based on dose recommendations in a similar case. We measured steady state meropenem plasma concentrations on 2 occasions, during ECMO and continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) and then on CVVHDF only. RESULTS: Meropenem serum concentrations were 90 and 64 mg/L on the first and second occasion (therapeutic target concentration, 10 mg/L) corresponding to a clearance of 1.9 and 2.6 mL/kg/min. This clearance estimate was substantially lower than that reported in toddlers on CRRT and ECMO in some studies. CONCLUSION: In neonates and infants, meropenem clearance is difficult to predict because of dynamic ontogenetic changes in renal function. This problem is further aggravated in acutely ill infants with decreased renal function, renal replacement therapy and/or ECMO. Therefore, Target Concentration Intervention based on meropenem plasma concentrations is indispensable to ensure therapeutic exposure in this population.

Decreased Systemic Busulfan Exposure After Oral Dosing With Concomitant Levetiracetam Compared With Phenytoin.

BACKGROUND: Busulfan (Bu) conditioning used in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may induce seizures, and prophylactic antiepileptic treatment is recommended. Following updated guidelines, in August 2019, the adult hematopoietic stem cell transplantation department of the Rambam Health Care Campus (Haifa, Israel) switched the antiepileptic prophylaxis protocol from phenytoin to oral levetiracetam during oral Bu conditioning. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetic parameters of Bu after oral dosing between patients receiving phenytoin and those receiving levetiracetam prophylaxis. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort study in adults undergoing myoablative conditioning with oral Bu between August 2018 and August 2020. Bu pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC0-6, C0, Cmax, and Tmax) were compared in patients treated with phenytoin comedication (during the year before the change in policy) and levetiracetam comedication (during the year after the change). Potential confounders were accounted for including age, azole comedication, and body weight. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in demographic and clinical parameters or weight-corrected Bu dose between the phenytoin group (n = 28) and the levetiracetam group (n = 25). There was no difference in the rate of voriconazole comedication, but fluconazole was more common in the phenytoin group (P = 0.026). The median AUC0-6 was significantly lower in the levetiracetam group (949 µM*min; IQR = 806 to 1101 µM*min) than in the phenytoin group (1208 µM*min; IQR = 1087 to 1389 µM*min; P < 0.001). This is a clinically significant difference of 258 µM*min (21%). Azole use was not associated with Bu exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that, after treatment with oral Bu, oral levetiracetam comedication is associated with reduced systemic exposure compared with phenytoin comedication, possibly because of decreased bioavailability.

Effective elimination of high-dose methotrexate by repeated hemodiafiltration and high-flux hemodialysis in patients with acute kidney injury.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) after high dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) is associated with delayed MTX-excretion and life-threatening toxicity. Glucapridase, the recommended therapy, is expensive and not always available. CASE SERIES: We describe 3 cases (69, 67, 73 years) with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who developed AKI and early-onset severely delayed MTX elimination after HD-MTX. MTX serum concentrations were 101 and 69 µmol/L at 24 h after administration in two patients and 34 µmol/L at 32 h in the third. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: Since glucarpidase was unavailable, we performed daily high-flux hemodialysis (HF-HD) or online hemodiafiltration (HDF) sessions (median duration, 6 h). The median serum MTX elimination half-life during HDF/HF-HD sessions was similar in all patients (median, 4.4 h; IQR, 3.8-5.3 h), but serum MTX concentrations rebounded after each dialysis by a median of 40% of the trough concentrations. The three patients underwent multiple dialysis sessions, until MTX serum concentrations remained sufficiently low to be neutralized by leucovorin. Only 1 patient developed severe pancytopenia, and renal function normalized in all patients after 3-6 weeks. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, when glucarpidase is unavailable or delayed, early, repeated and prolonged HDF/HF-HD effectively enhance MTX elimination and prevent toxicity in patients with AKI and severely delayed MTX elimination after HD-MTX.

An outbreak of mushroom poisoning in Israel during the 2020 fall and winter season: an unexpected outcome of COVID-19 restrictions?

INTRODUCTION: Mushroom poisonings occur every year in Israel, mainly in the fall and winter seasons. During the fall/winter of 2020, we experienced an increase in calls to the Israel Poison Information Center (IPIC) concerning mushroom ingestions. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of mushroom poisonings reported to the IPIC during 2015-2020 using the electronic IPIC data base. For all calls about mushroom poisonings in 2020, we extracted data on patient demographics, geographic location of the picked mushroom, mycological identification (if available), IPIC recommendations, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: The IPIC received 105 calls concerning mushrooms ingestion in 2020, 65 (62%) during the last quarter. This corresponded to a 2.5-fold increase compared to the median annual rate between 2015 and 2019, and a 5-fold increase compared to the same fall/winter period in 2019. Most cases had no or only minor signs and symptoms, but 6% had moderate to severe poisoning. The severe poisonings, including one life-threatening were due to Lepiota brunneoincarnata and Amanita proxima ingestion. DISCUSSION: Possible explanations for this outbreak include favorable climate conditions and increased outdoor activities of the public in response to restrictions on other leisure activities imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Polypharmacy among pediatric cancer patients dying in the hospital.

BACKGROUND: Decisions on medication treatment in children dying from cancer are often complex and may result in polypharmacy and increased medication burden. There is no information on medication burden in pediatric cancer patients at the end of life (EOL). OBJECTIVES: To characterize medication burden during the last hospitalization in children dying from cancer. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study based on medical records of 90 children who died from cancer in hospital between 01 January 2010 and 30 December 2018. Demographic and clinical information were collected for the last hospitalization. We compared medication burden (number of medication orders) at hospitalization and at time of death and examined whether changes in medication burden were associated with clinical and demographic parameters. RESULTS: Median medication burden was higher in leukemia/lymphoma patients (6 orders) compared to solid (4 orders) or CNS tumor patients (4 orders, P = 0.006). Overall, the median number of prescriptions per patient did not change until death (P = 0.42), while there was a significant reduction for some medication subgroups (chemotherapy [P = 0.035], steroids [P = 0.010]).Patients dying in the ICU (n=15) had a higher medication burden at death (6 orders) than patients dying on wards (3 orders, P = 0.001). There was a trend for a reduction in medication burden in patients with "Do not resuscitate" (DNR) orders (P = 0.055). CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy is ubiquitous among pediatric oncology patients at EOL. Disease type and DNR status may affect medication burden and deprescribing during the last hospitalization.

Acute and severe ribavirin-associated hyperuricemia and acute kidney injury: An underrecognized adverse effect.

PURPOSE: To report a case of ribavirin-associated severe hyperuricemia in an immunocompromised patient treated for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. SUMMARY: A 21-year-old male with a past medical history of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia was in full remission after allogenic bone marrow transplantation complicated with chronic graft-versus-host disease. He was hospitalized due to fever, malaise, and respiratory symptoms. A diagnosis of RSV upper respiratory tract infection complicated by secondary pneumonia was made, and oral ribavirin (600 mg in 3 divided doses daily) and intravenous levofloxacin (750 mg once daily) were initiated. On day 2 of the hospital admission, the patient's uric acid levels had increased from a baseline of 4 to 6 mg/dL to 19.3 and 22.2 mg/dL after the fourth and fifth doses of ribavirin, respectively, and his serum creatinine steadily had increased from a baseline of 0.7 to 0.8 mg/dL to 1.6 mg/dL. Ribavirin was discontinued after the sixth dose, and a single dose of intravenous rasburicase (7.5 mg) was administered. On day 3, the patient's serum uric and creatinine concentrations had decreased to 4.7 mg/dL and 1.1 mg/dL, respectively. He continued to recover on antibiotics and was discharged with normal uric acid and serum creatinine levels. CONCLUSION: We report a case of severe hyperuricemia and acute kidney injury that developed early after initiation of ribavirin for RSV infection and suspected bacterial pneumonia in an immunocompromised patient without hepatitis C, requiring ribavirin discontinuation and rasburicase administration. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of severe hyperuricemia in a patient treated with ribavirin for RSV infection rather than chronic hepatitis C. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of acute and severe hyperuricemia following ribavirin administration.

Adherence with prescription drugs in pregnant and breastfeeding women consulting with the Israel Poison Information Center Teratology Service.

INTRODUCTION: During pregnancy and breastfeeding, many women require prescription medications. Concerns about drug effects on the fetus or breastfed infant may lead to decreased adherence. Our objective was to evaluate the adherence of pregnant and breastfeeding Israeli women to prescription drugs, the information they received regarding drug safety, and the women's awareness and pattern of the use of Teratogen Information Services (TIS) in Israel. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study among pregnant and breastfeeding women who had contacted the Israel Poison Information Center (IPIC) to consult about prescription medications. In a follow-up telephone call, we assessed adherence (defined as medication initiation by the time of the follow-up call) and the patients' recollection of the safety information given by the prescribing physician. In an additional cohort of post-partum women, we assessed their awareness about TIS in Israel. RESULTS: We included 59 pregnant women (62 prescriptions), 75 breastfeeding women (80 prescriptions), and 49 postpartum women. About two-thirds of all prescriptions were for antimicrobial drugs. By the time of the follow-up call, most participants (89% of pregnant and 89% of breastfeeding women) had initiated medications. Eight (11%) breastfeeding women stopped breastfeeding their babies while using the medication. Patients reported receiving explicit and unequivocal information concerning medication safety by the prescriber for 50% and 55% of prescriptions to pregnant and breastfeeding women, respectively. 70% of postpartum women interviewed in the maternity ward were not aware of TIS in Israel. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We observed high adherence rate to prescription medication therapy among pregnant and breastfeeding women in our cohort. Only about half of the women reported receiving comprehensive drug safety information by the prescriber. Raising awareness of the importance of medication safety counseling among both physicians and patients may contribute to the quality of medical care of pregnant and breastfeeding women in Israel.

Are corticosteroids or end-stage renal failure associated with an afebrile presentation of Gram-negative bacteraemia?

OBJECTIVES: Assertions regarding afebrile presentation of sepsis frequently lead to superfluous antibiotic treatment. This study aimed to identify the risk factors for afebrile presentation of bacteraemia, focusing on glucocorticoid (GC) treatment and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with bacteraemia caused by common Gram-negative bacteria in one hospital. The exposure variables were GC treatment, administered for at least 48 hours before bacteraemia onset, and ESRD, defined as patients undergoing dialysis. Risk factors were assessed for afebrile presentation, defined as temperature between 36.0-37.7°C for all measurements, 48 hours prior to blood culture collection. Analyses were subgrouped by community-onset and hospital-acquired Gram-negative bacteraemia (GNB). Propensity score (PS)-weighted multivariate analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Of 4179 patients with GNB, 1090 (26.1%) presented without fever before blood culture collection. In community-onset GNB, GC treatment was significantly associated with afebrile presentation, PS-weighted OR 1.42 (95% CI 1.25-1.61), absolute risk increase 7% (95% CI 4.3-9.8%), while ESRD was not. For hospital-acquired GNB, ESRD was significantly associated with afebrile presentation (OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.25-1.86; absolute risk increase 8.5%; 95% CI 4.4-13.1%); GC was not. Other risk factors for afebrile presentation in both subgroups included increasing Charlson comorbidity score, bacteraemia with non-fermenters Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (compared with Enterobacteriaceae), and lower albumin levels. Aging was not associated with afebrile presentation of GNB. CONCLUSION: Although significant associations between GC and ESRD and afebrile presentation of GNB were observed, they were different in community-onset and hospital-acquired GNBs, and absolute risk increases were small.

Analyzing Medical Research Results Based on Synthetic Data and Their Relation to Real Data Results: Systematic Comparison From Five Observational Studies.

BACKGROUND: Privacy restrictions limit access to protected patient-derived health information for research purposes. Consequently, data anonymization is required to allow researchers data access for initial analysis before granting institutional review board approval. A system installed and activated at our institution enables synthetic data generation that mimics data from real electronic medical records, wherein only fictitious patients are listed. OBJECTIVE: This paper aimed to validate the results obtained when analyzing synthetic structured data for medical research. A comprehensive validation process concerning meaningful clinical questions and various types of data was conducted to assess the accuracy and precision of statistical estimates derived from synthetic patient data. METHODS: A cross-hospital project was conducted to validate results obtained from synthetic data produced for five contemporary studies on various topics. For each study, results derived from synthetic data were compared with those based on real data. In addition, repeatedly generated synthetic datasets were used to estimate the bias and stability of results obtained from synthetic data. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that results derived from synthetic data were predictive of results from real data. When the number of patients was large relative to the number of variables used, highly accurate and strongly consistent results were observed between synthetic and real data. For studies based on smaller populations that accounted for confounders and modifiers by multivariate models, predictions were of moderate accuracy, yet clear trends were correctly observed. CONCLUSIONS: The use of synthetic structured data provides a close estimate to real data results and is thus a powerful tool in shaping research hypotheses and accessing estimated analyses, without risking patient privacy. Synthetic data enable broad access to data (eg, for out-of-organization researchers), and rapid, safe, and repeatable analysis of data in hospitals or other health organizations where patient privacy is a primary value.

Limited Sampling Strategies Supporting Individualized Dose Adjustment of Intravenous Busulfan in Children and Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for busulfan supports dose adjustment during conditioning for stem cell transplantation. The authors aimed to develop and validate limited sampling strategies (LSS) of 4-5 samples for a precise estimation of the area under concentration (AUC)-time curve of busulfan, in plasma as an alternative to an intensive sampling strategy (ISS) requiring 9-10 samples. METHODS: ISS TDM data from 297 patients (≤18 years of age) were used. AUCLSS was calculated using the trapezoidal rule and multiple linear regression (MLR). Unlike more complex modeling methods, MLR does not require sophisticated software or advanced training of personnel. MLR coefficients were estimated in the development subset containing randomly selected 50% of the records and were then used to calculate the AUCLSS of the remaining records (the validation subset). The agreement between dose adjustment recommendations (DAR) based on ISS and LSS, in the validation subset, was evaluated by a Bland-Altman analysis. A DAR deviating from an ISS-based reference by <15% was deemed acceptable. RESULTS: Twelve LSSs were acceptable. Sampling at 0, 120, 180, and 240 minutes after the start of the second infusion (LSS15) yielded the best performance, with DAR deviating from the reference by <10% for 95% of cases; the AUCLSS was determined as follows: AUCLSS = 74.7954 × C(0) + 81.8948 × C(120) + 38.1771 × C(180) + 138.1404 × C(240) + 54.1837. This LSS and LSS13 performed similarly well in an independent external validation. CONCLUSIONS: MLR-based estimates of AUCLSS provide DARs that deviate minimally from the reference. LSSs allow the reduction of patient discomfort, a ∼50% reduction of TDM-related workload for nursing staff and blood loss and a ∼25% reduction in laboratory workload. These benefits may encourage wider use of busulfan TDM, supporting safe and efficacious personalized dosing.

Attention to age: similar dosing regimens lead to different vancomycin levels among older and younger patients.

BACKGROUND: little is known on the clinical implications of vancomycin trough levels among older patients. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the association between vancomycin levels and outcomes among older versus younger patients. DESIGN: retrospective study. SUBJECTS: patients aged 18-64 and ≥65 years treated with vancomycin for documented methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. METHODS: we compared the effectiveness and toxicity of vancomycin according to trough levels in older versus younger patients. Subgroup analysis of patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was performed. RESULTS: we included 181 patients aged ≥65 years and 104 younger patients. Mean age in the older group was 76.9 ± 8 years versus 50.9 ± 12.4 in the younger group. Vancomycin trough levels and 24-hours area under the curve to minimal inhibitory concentrations (AUC/MIC) were significantly higher in older patients who were also significantly more likely to achieve trough levels of ≥15 mg/l within 4 days, (98/181 (54.1%) vs. 38/104 (36.5%) in younger patients, P = 0.004). Results were similar among patients with GFR > 60. Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in older (74/181, 40.9% vs. 13/104, 12.5%, respectively, P < 0.001). There was no association between vancomycin trough levels and mortality among older patients. No significant differences were demonstrated in clinical or microbiological success or nephrotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: applying uniform dosing recommendations across age groups among adults with MRSA infections results in higher vancomycin levels and AUC/MIC in older versus younger patients. Yet, mortality rates remain higher among older adults. Prospective studies are needed to define the optimal approach for using this drug in older patients.

[ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIPTION ERRORS IN PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED IN INTERNAL MEDICINE DEPARTMENTS - A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY].

AIMS: To examine the prevalence of antibiotic prescription errors in three medical departments. BACKGROUND: Prescription errors are common and associated with significant adverse drug events (ADEs), morbidity and mortality, and health care expenditures. METHODS: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted in three medical departments, including consecutive patients with suspected or proven infections, and/or antibiotic prescriptions. The primary outcome was the proportion of prescription errors, defined as: contraindications, inadequate dose regimen, and unnecessary antibiotic treatment. Secondary outcomes included incidence of ADEs, proportion of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) with clinical relevance, and prevalence of inadequate monitoring for ADEs and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). RESULTS: We identified 327 patient-episodes in 295 patients. The most common infectious diagnoses were urinary tract infection and pneumonia. Among 633 prescriptions, 113 (18%) contained errors in 87 (27%) patient-episodes. The most common types of error were inappropriate dose adjustment for renal function and unnecessary treatment. There were 6 prescriptions with contraindications (0.9%). Laboratory monitoring was required in 259 patient-episodes but inadequate in 40 (15%). TDM was required in 40 patient-episodes, but was not performed in 25 (63%). There were 69 ADEs in 61 patient-episodes (19%). Compared to patients without ADEs, patients who developed ADEs had more prescription errors (p=0.055), more potential DDIs (p=0.012), and received more often antibiotics that needed monitoring and TDM. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiotic prescription errors in medical departments are common and may be associated with significant ADEs. Our findings may help in prioritizing the customization of prescription computer decision support systems to improve antibiotic prescription.

Variants in BMI-Associated Genes and Adrenergic Genes are not Associated with Gestational Weight Trajectory.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to define the association between a genetic risk score (GRS) that combined the effect of multiple BMI-associated variants and gestational weight trajectory. Because pregnancy is a state of sympathetic activation, the association between gestational weight trajectory and variants in adrenergic pathways previously associated with weight was examined. METHODS: In a previously defined cohort of pregnant women with (n = 1,504) and without gestational diabetes (GDM) (n = 435), weight trajectory was calculated using all weights during pregnancy. A GRS for BMI (GRSBMI ) was calculated using 31 common variants associated with BMI, and 10 variants in the adrenergic pathways were genotyped. Clinical and genetic factors were studied using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Prepregnancy BMI was associated with the GRSBMI (P = 9.3 × 10-11 ) and parity (P = 4.54 × 10-17 ). The GRSBMI was associated with gestational weight trajectory in women with and without GDM (P = 0.041 and P < 0.0001, respectively); however, when prepregnancy BMI was included in the models, the associations disappeared (P > 0.05). Variants in adrenergic genes were not associated with gestational weight trajectory. CONCLUSIONS: A GRS for BMI was associated with prepregnancy BMI but was not independently associated with gestational weight trajectory in women with and without GDM. Selected variants in adrenergic genes were not associated with gestational weight trajectory.

The association of vancomycin trough levels with outcomes among patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections: Retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Current guidelines recommend maintaining vancomycin trough concentrations between 15-20 mg/L for serious methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. This recommendation is based on limited evidence. METHODS: A retrospective study including patients with vancomycin susceptible MRSA infections (MIC< = 2 mg/L), treated with vancomycin. We compared outcomes among patients attaining high (> = 15mg/L) vs low (<15mg/L) trough vancomycin levels. We used a propensity score to matching patients achieving low and high levels and conducted an adjusted analysis in the propensity score (PS)-matched cohort using regression analysis. Primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Among 285 patients included, there were no significant differences between patients achieving high and low vancomycin levels in mortality (46/131, 35.1% vs 41/154, 26.6%), clinical success, microbiological success, or nephrotoxicity. Similarly, in the PS-matched cohort (n = 162), there was no significant difference in mortality between patients with high and low vancomycin levels (24/53, 45.3% vs 57/109, 52.3%, respectively), adjusted odds ratio for mortality with high levels 0.63 (95% confidence interval 0.28-1.43). In both cohorts, patients with pneumonia achieving high levels had significantly higher clinical and microbiological success (PS-matched cohort: clinical success: 16/32, 50.0% vs 5/27, 18.5%, p = 0.012; microbiological success: 19/32, 59.4% vs 7/27, 25.9%, p = 0.010), without significant differences in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: We found no association between vancomycin levels > = 15 mg/L and clinical outcomes in patients with MRSA infections. In patients with MRSA pneumonia, vancomycin levels > = 15 mg/L were associated with higher clinical success rates. Further larger cohort studies are needed to define optimal vancomycin levels according to the site of infection.