Analysis of Pharmacist Interventions in Adult COVID-19 Patients Admitted to a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Background: Pharmacists are integral members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team who, with their skills, knowledge, and training, are well positioned to prevent, identify, and manage medication-related issues. Many published articles related to COVID-19 management have highlighted the important role of the pharmacists in assuring the safe, effective, and cost-effective use of medications. During such challenging times of COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in a high demand on medical resources and healthcare providers, pharmacists are well positioned to contribute and add more efforts to the healthcare system to achieve best use of the available resources including medications and providing high quality pharmaceutical care to help the patients and support the healthcare providers. Methods: This is a retrospective chart review included all admitted adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis from 1 March 2020 till 30 June 2020. The documented clinical pharmacist interventions were extracted from the EMR and reviewed by multiple clinical pharmacists to identify type, number, frequency, outcome, and physician's acceptance rate of documented interventions. Results: A total of 484 pharmacist interventions included in the final analysis. Antimicrobial stewardship interventions were the most reported (149, 30.8%) and antibiotics were the most reported class of medication, constituting 31.1% of the total interventions. "Optimized therapy" was the most commonly reported outcome (58.8%). Overall, 50.8% (246) of the interventions were rated as having "moderate" clinical significance using the clinical significance scoring tool. The physicians' acceptance rate was 94.7%. Conclusion: Pharmacist interventions are associated with improved communication and medication use in admitted adult patients with COVID-19. Clinical pharmacists can play a crucial role in optimizing medication use in patients with COVID-19 through prevention, identification, and resolving existing or potential drug-related problems.

The Strategic Role of Healthcare Professionals in the Battle Against COVID-19: Do We Really Need Help from Community Pharmacists?

Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, was recognised in December 2019 as the centre of an outbreak of an unknown originator of pneumonia. Intense concentrations of illness spread throughout China and, ultimately, globally. Consequently, on 7th January, 2020, Chinese researchers identified a case of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in an affected person in Wuhan as the cause. Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 vary from mild (fever, dry cough, difficulty in breathing, and pain in muscles) to severe (acute respiratory distress syndrome [ARDS}, azotemia or acute renal failure, ventilation associated pneumonia [VAP], and shock from sepsis). In a multidisciplinary team, pharmacists play a strategic role as medical healthcare professionals in restricting the dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 and can serve as sentinels in their communities to control and counteract this epidemic domestically. Key Words: SARS-CoV-2, Community pharmacists, Frontline healthcare workers.

SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: How can pharmacists help?

Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of viruses that cause disorders ranging from a mild cold to severe disease. Some of the CoVs are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans. In December 2019, the world awoke to a new zoonotic strain of CoV that was named SARS-CoV-2 (standing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2), which has been classified as a high-consequence infectious disease. In addition, serious complications related to COVID-19 have been reported in some patients. These include acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, septic shock and ventilator-associated pneumonia. The pharmacist, as a healthcare practitioner, can play an important role in hindering the spread of COVID-19, and can be an active participant in national and community efforts to fight and contain this outbreak.

Incorporating a clinical oncology pharmacist into an ambulatory care pharmacy in pediatric hematology-oncology and transplant clinic: Assessment and significance.

BACKGROUND: Beta thalassemia patients, post-bone marrow transplant, and leukemia patients require long term therapy with an intense care follow-up especially for pediatric hematology-oncology origin. Emergence of side effects and noncompliance to therapy lead to reduced efficacy of medicines resulting in relapse of diseases. There is an increasing fact to support the incorporation of a pharmacist into clinical team due to their distinctive skills. Clinical oncology pharmacist with experience and specialized training in hematological cancers and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) patient care has in-depth knowledge and skills of chemotherapy regimens including drug information, monitoring parameters of cancer treatment, dose adjustment, drug-drug interactions, adverse effects, and patient counseling skills. AIM AND OBJECTIVES: The main objective of our study was to assess the significance of incorporation of clinical oncology pharmacist in ambulatory care in pediatric hematology-oncology and transplant clinic. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study was conducted at National Institute of Blood Diseases and Bone Marrow Transplantation hospital with duration of five months from 17 March 2019 to 16 July 2019. In this study the clinical oncology pharmacist was made available at ambulatory clinic of hematology-oncology and transplantation. The activities performed by a clinical oncology pharmacist were observed by resident BMT clinical pharmacist during the visits of patients and their families in a clinic. The BMT pharmacist is a clinical oncology pharmacist with experience and specialized training in hematological cancers and BMT patient care. Only pediatrics patients with beta thalassemia major and those who were on chemotherapy treatment and post-transplant patient were included in this study. RESULTS: During the five months' tenure, there were 1820 pediatric patients' visits in total. The clinical oncology pharmacist performed 980 direct patient interviews and documented 1665 pharmacist interventions. The majority of the documented clinical oncology pharmacist interventions were review of medication histories (n: 404, 24%) and "deferiprone" dose adjustments (n:400, 24%). Genomic profiling interventions were also among the commonly reported activities by the clinical oncology pharmacist. For beta thalassemia patients undergoing hydroxyurea therapy, the genomic profiling was performed to assess whether the hydroxyurea treatment is clinically effective or not (n:396, 23%). CONCLUSION: The involvement of clinical oncology pharmacist into a specialized outpatient clinic of hematology-oncology and transplant clinic plays an integral role in minimizing the adverse effect and reduction in readmission into the hospital. This is new expansion of pharmacist's role especially in underdeveloped country, considering the relevant clinical participation of clinical oncology pharmacist into specialized clinic revealing through optimized therapy and future prospect of clinical oncology pharmacist in pediatric hematology.

Valproate Interaction With Carbapenems: Review and Recommendations.

Introduction: Valproic acid is a commonly used antiepileptic drug. Combining valproate derivatives with carbapenem antibiotics is associated with a potential drug interaction that decreases serum concentration of valproate and may expose the patient to uncontrolled seizure risk from valproate subtherapeutic concentration. Raising awareness of this drug interaction among health care providers including emergency department physicians, neurologists, and pharmacists is highly needed. The aim of this article was to review the current literature about the potential drug interaction resulting from combining valproate derivatives with carbapenem antibiotics and to establish therapeutic recommendations regarding their use together. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted using Medline (through PubMed), Ovid, Embase, Cochrane library using the following keywords: valproate, valproic acid, carbapenem, ertapenem, doripenem, meropenem, imipenem, and valproate drug interaction. In addition, a manual search through major journals for articles referenced in PubMed was performed. Related publications from January 1998 till November 2018 were included in the initial search. Relevant publications were reviewed, and data regarding patients, type of carbapenem used, valproic acid dosing and level, interaction severity, and clinical outcome were summarized. Results and Discussion: Few clinical trials and multiple case reports have shown that carbapenem antibiotics including meropenem, ertapenem, imipenem, and doripenem can decrease the serum concentration of valproate derivatives leading to a subtherapeutic serum concentration and seizures in some patients. Valproic acid serum concentration may be significantly decreased with addition of a carbapenem antibiotic but generally return toward normal shortly after discontinuation of the carbapenem antibiotic. Conclusions: Generally, the concurrent use of carbapenem antibiotics with valproate derivatives should be avoided due to the potential of drug-drug interaction that results in subtherapeutic valproate serum concentration. Other antimicrobial agents should be considered as alternatives to carbapenems but if a concurrent carbapenem is necessary, using an additional antiepileptic agent is recommended. Therapeutic drug monitoring of valproate serum concentrations is warranted when a carbapenem-valproic acid combination therapy is unavoidable.

A review of Osimertinib in NSCLC and pharmacist role in NSCLC patient care.

Lung cancer is a complex, genetically heterogeneous disease. It is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the majority of the diagnosed lung cancer cases. Osimertinib is a new treatment option that demonstrated a superior efficacy over standard epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) or platinum-based chemotherapy. The safety and efficacy of osimertinib (a third generation EGFR-TKIs) were confirmed by well-designed clinical trials. Consequently, osimertinib was considered a first-line treatment option, particularly in patients with EGFR mutant NSCLC. It has been approved by FDA for the treatment of advance or metastatic NSCLC patients with specific EGFR-mutant NSCLC. As an active member of the multidisciplinary team, pharmacist has a promising role in assuring safe, effective and cost-effective treatment in patient with NSCLC. This review article aims to highlight the latest evidence about osimertinib use as a new treatment option in the clinical practice and to review the potential pharmacist key roles in NSCLC patient care.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Cancer Patients.

In December 2019, a novel coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) caused an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Severe complications have been reported to occur in 33% of patients with COVID-19 and include acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute renal failure, acute respiratory injury, septic shock, and severe pneumonia. Currently, there is no specific treatment or approved vaccine against COVID-19 and many clinical trials are currently investigating potential medications to treat COVID-19. The immunosuppressed status of some cancer patients (whether caused by the disease itself or the treatment) increases their risk of infection compared with the general population. This short review aims to focus on the impact of COVID-19 on a cancer patient and discuss management options and recommendation in addition to highlighting the currently available clinical guidelines and resources.

Phenytoin-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis: Review and recommendations.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a serious, life-threatening skin reaction characterized by severe exfoliation and destruction of the epidermis of the skin. In most TEN cases, drugs are believed to be the causative agent; antipsychotics, antiepileptics, and other medications such as sulfonamides are among the most common causes of drug-induced TEN. Phenytoin, a commonly prescribed medication for seizure, was found to cause TEN. Evidence-based treatment guidelines are lacking, so the best strategy is to identify and avoid potential risk factors and to provide intensive supportive care. The aim of this literature review is to focus on phenytoin-induced TEN, to explore the risk factors, and to highlight the possible treatment options once phenytoin-induced TEN is confirmed.

Evidence-based pharmaceutical care: The next chapter in pharmacy practice.

INTRODUCTION: Pharmacy is a very dynamic profession and the role of the pharmacist is improving with the expansion of the scope of services and the introduction of new subspecialties over time. Moving from being medication dispensers to outcome-oriented and patient-focused care providers; pharmacists will carry more responsibility and commitment to improve their knowledge and practice. Being updated and evidence-based is a key tool to achieve effective pharmaceutical care services. The primary purpose of this article is to highlight the concept of "evidence based pharmaceutical care" as professional practice to improve the quality of pharmaceutical care. METHODS: Literature for relevant evidence was searched by Medline (through PubMed), Cochrane library using the keywords: pharmaceutical care, evidence-based and pharmacy practice. Also a manual search through major journals for articles referenced in those located through PubMed was done. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: There is strong data showing that pharmaceutical care lead to improvement in health outcomes and cost-effective therapy. More efforts, policies and qualified staff are needed to establish the "evidence-based pharmaceutical care" as new daily professional practice. Evidence to support pharmacists in their emerging role as care providers is available to improve the efficacy and quality of pharmaceutical care. Education and specialized training practicing evidence based approach are vital to prepare pharmacists to provide high quality pharmaceutical care. CONCLUSION: As care providers, pharmacists are effective in providing high quality patient care and being members in multidisciplinary clinical teams is needed to give them the opportunity. Evidence based pharmaceutical care is a natural and logical emerging concept in the modern pharmacy practice to achieve high quality and more effective pharmaceutical care but still more efforts and resources are needed to promote new attitude toward more professional career.

Practical issues with high dose methotrexate therapy.

Methotrexate (MTX) is an antifolate cytotoxic medication used to treat certain types of cancer and at lower doses for rheumatic diseases. MTX has many serious adverse effects, such as myelosuppression, hepatic, renal and pulmonary disorders. For safe and effective use of high dose methotrexate (HDMTX) certain precautions should be followed. We present this case study with short review to briefly summarize the important practical issues related to HDMTX therapy.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy: rationale, applications, and limitations.

Intraperitoneal chemotherapy, involving the administration of certain chemotherapeutic agents directly to the intraperitoneal cavity, was developed as a novel therapeutic strategy early in the 1950s. Intraperitoneal administration of chemotherapy results in higher intraperitoneal concentration of the cytotoxic medications and minimal systemic exposure than observed with intravenous administration, which in turn may increase the efficacy of these agents with substantial reduction in systemic toxicity. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy was used successfully in peritoneal surface malignancies, including malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, pseudomyxoma peritonei, malignant ascites, sarcomatosis, and peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastrointestinal and ovarian cancers. Pharmacists may play a major role in optimizing intraperitoneal chemotherapy through verification of chemotherapy order for proper doses, dilution, preparation, and administration. Moreover, pharmacists are medication experts who can provide other health care professionals with the necessary drug information. Despite the local application of chemotherapy, intraperitoneal chemotherapy is not free of systemic side effects and can be associated with serious complications. The benefits of intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be weighed against its potential harm to maximize efficacy and to minimize morbidity and mortality as much as possible. The aim of this article is to review the current available literature regarding the safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in cancer treatment.

The impact of clinical pharmacist and ID intervention in rationalization of antimicrobial use.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: There is little research on the impact of implementing and monitoring antimicrobial policy in Saudi hospitals. The purpose of this study is to measure the impact of the clinical pharmacist (CP) and infectious disease consultant (ID) interventions on the use of three antimicrobials (caspofungin, imipenem, meropenem) in hospitalized patients in the King Abdullah Medical City hospital. METHODS: The study was carried out in the King Abdullah Medical City, in Mekkah, Saudi Arabia. The hospital is a tertiary center that provides CCU, CSICU, Cardiac, Hematology, ICU, Medical, Neuroscience, Oncology, and specialized surgery services. The use of three antimicrobials (caspofungin, imipenem, meropenem) was reviewed by the clinical pharmacist for four periods, pre and post implementation of policy. Relevant data were collected in four periods. In the first period, before policy implementation, data were collected retrospectively to be used as baseline status reference, and in the three remaining periods that followed data were collected prospectively, and compared to baseline data, to evaluate the role of clinical pharmacist and ID interventions in optimizing antimicrobial therapy. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Caspofungin duration of therapy was not affected significantly by the intervention. Statistically significant reduction in antimicrobial therapy duration was observed in imipenem (37%) and meropenem (37%) from baseline, which indicate a better control on antimicrobial use and reduction in antimicrobial resistance. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The impact of the clinical pharmacist and ID interventions, in reducing antimicrobial therapy duration using imipenem and meropenem, is clear from the result presented above. However, lack of restriction and follow up in the antimicrobial policy in case of negative culture makes antimicrobial use uncontrollable in these cases. Establishing good and accepted policy may help reduce consumption and total cost of therapy.